Huipil from San Juan Ostuncalco in Guatemala


Item Number: 478

Time Left: CLOSED

Value: $60

Online Close: Dec 4, 2015 1:00 PM EST

Bid History: 3 bids - Item Sold!






Description

The Guatemalan huipil, pronounced "wee-peel,", is a garment woven and worn by Mayan women from Chiapas in Mexico through the highlands of Guatemala.  A huipil is a loose-fitting tunic with openings for the head and arms.  Mayan huipils are generally made from one to three rectangular pieces of fabric woven on a backstrap loom. The complex weaving patterns are specific to a particular village while many of the designs can be traced back to ancient Mayan times.  It can take up to six months to complete the fabric for a huipil.


This huipil is from San Juan Ostuncalco in Guatemala.  Woven into the fabric are three rows of peacocks in brilliant colors.   The huipils of this town are known for their beautiful “randas,” the colorful band of embroidery that joins together the two pieces of cloth that make up the tunic.  This huipil displays an especially rich array of colors.


 


 

Special Instructions

Price is based on item pickup at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main Street in Groton, MA.  Shipping is available upon request; buyer is responsible for additional costs of shipping and handling.