Textile Production in the Andes | DMA Staging Content Management System

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Artists have been weaving in the Andean region of South America for thousands of years. They use natural resources such as cotton, camelid hair, and insect and plant dyes to produce striking textiles of complex forms, colors, and designs. The labor-intensive process of creating a textile begins with sheering camelids for the raw hair and picking raw cotton. These fibers are cleaned, combed, and spun into thread, which is dyed with natural colorants and woven together using a variety of techniques and tools. Rather than weaving fabric, which is intended to be cut and sewn into something usable or wearable, Andean weavers generally produce textiles in their entirety. The textiles are finished along all four edges directly on the loom, which requires meticulous planning. In the Andes, the skills and techniques of weaving are passed down orally and through demonstration from generation to generation.

A variety of looms are used for textile production in the Andes. The ground loom is fastened to the ground with four stakes, and the weaver sits on the ground as he or she weaves. The vertical loom is fastened to the ground with two lateral stakes; the warp threads are stretched vertically between two parallel beams. The back strap loom is a portable loom in which one end is attached to a tree or post, while the other end is secured to a belt that wraps around the weaver's back.

Adapted from

Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Gallery text, 2015.

NOTES

General description taken from: Kimberly L. Jones, "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," Label Copy (Textile Production in the Andes), 2015.

ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS

AUDIO ASSETS

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

265930415: UMO. [Caption] Ground loom. Source: Kimberly Jones, "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," Label Copy (Looms), 2015 (after drawing by Jane W. Rehl, in Andean Textile Traditions, Denver Art Museum 2006).

265930642: UMO. [Caption] Vertical loom. Source: Kimberly Jones, "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," Label Copy (Looms), 2015 (after Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala, Nueva Corónica y Buen Gobierno, 1615, p. 647).

265930325: UMO. [Caption] Back strap loom. Source: Kimberly Jones, "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," Label Copy (Looms), 2015 (after Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala, Nueva Corónica y Buen Gobierno, 1615, p. 217).

WEB RESOURCES

The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Andean Textiles.

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

SET OPERATOR AS OR

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Chancay AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Chavín AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Chimú AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Chincha AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Chongoyape AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Cupisnique AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Gallinazo-Viru AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Huari AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Ica AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Inca AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Inka AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Moche AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Nasca AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Nazca AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Nieveria AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Paracas AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Recuay AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Salinar AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Lambayeque AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Tembladera AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Tiwanaku AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Tiahuanaco AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Vicus AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Viru AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where culture contains Wari AND classification_name equals textiles

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2436

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2256

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2479

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2429

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2431

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1991.380

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1839

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1835

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1812.A-B

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1809

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1821

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1818

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1815

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1990.149.FA

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1975.61

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.2168

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.2167

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2349

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2390

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2429

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2256

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2418

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2479

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2431

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1991.380

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1994.281

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2433

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 2006.27

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.2229

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1990.149.FA

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1991.373

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1983.W.1927

apply to OBJECTS where number equals S.1980.6

apply to OBJECTS where number equals 1989.W.2364

General Description

Artists have been weaving in the Andean region of South America for thousands of years. They use natural resources such as cotton, camelid hair, and insect and plant dyes to produce striking textiles of complex forms, colors, and designs. The labor-intensive process of creating a textile begins with sheering camelids for the raw hair and picking raw cotton. These fibers are cleaned, combed, and spun into thread, which is dyed with natural colorants and woven together using a variety of techniques and tools. Rather than weaving fabric, which is intended to be cut and sewn into something usable or wearable, Andean weavers generally produce textiles in their entirety. The textiles are finished along all four edges directly on the loom, which requires meticulous planning. In the Andes, the skills and techniques of weaving are passed down orally and through demonstration from generation to generation.

A variety of looms are used for textile production in the Andes. The ground loom is fastened to the ground with four stakes, and the weaver sits on the ground as he or she weaves. The vertical loom is fastened to the ground with two lateral stakes; the warp threads are stretched vertically between two parallel beams. The back strap loom is a portable loom in which one end is attached to a tree or post, while the other end is secured to a belt that wraps around the weaver's back.

Adapted from

Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Gallery text, 2015.

Fun Facts

Archival Resources

Web Resources

The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Andean Textiles.

Notes

General description taken from: Kimberly L. Jones, "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," Label Copy (Textile Production in the Andes), 2015.