Threads of Time: Tradition and Change in Indigenous American Textiles

Browse Items (254 total)

2015_039_001_A_SCR.jpg
Vessel with Double-Headed Snakes-Caiman
Central America, Panamá
Macaracas
ca. 9th-11th century AD
Ceramic
Gift of Alan Grinnell Ars Ceramica Collection
2015.39.1

2002_001_126_Cpa_SCR.jpg
Due to the dry climate of the ancient Andes, thousands upon thousands of textiles were preserved from antiquity, as well as weaving and spinning tools and balls of yarn, often accompanying the deceased. Both elaborating these tools and then burying…

2009_042_164_D_SCR.jpg
Made in a very small farming village, Santa Lucía Utatlán, this wedding blouse displays clear Spanish elements. Departing from traditional choices, this wedding huipíl has only two panels instead of the usual three. It also incorporates an elaborate…

2009_042_158_D_SCR.jpg
Although some Maya women, in recent times especially, choose to wear white Western-style wedding gowns, many continue to don fine traditional Maya blouses, skirts, and belts. The bride’s garments are wedding gifts from her future husband and his…

2009_042_001_C_SCR.jpg
This wedding ensemble from early 20th century Totonicapán consists of a white huipíl (blouse), a blue corte (skirt), and a colorful faja (belt). Some white-on-white patterning is common among festive clothing, particularly wedding ensembles. This…

2016_018_001_C_SCR (1).jpg
Contemporary Chichicastenango examples feature an almost neon palette and may combine a traditional love of geometry with a new emphasis on flowers. A type of imagery that is often seen on traditional Chichicastenango huipiles is lines of zigzags…
Output Formats

atom, dcmes-xml, json, omeka-xml, rss2