tzute (Textile)

Woven by a woman. Unfinished huipil characteristics of the piece indicates that it may have been woven as a tourist souvenir.

This object forms part of the Inge Ruus Collection of Guatemalan Textiles in the Museum of Anthropology. The Inge Ruus Collection of Guatemalan Textiles was collected on behalf of the Museum of Anthropology by Inge Ruus, Curatorial Assistant in the Museum from 1974 to 1978. Some items were purchased by the Museum and others were donated by Inge Ruus. Inge Ruus collected these materials while attending courses on Guatemalan textiles in Guatemala during the summers of 1976 and 1977, taught by Anne Lambert, instructor on textiles at the University of Alberta.

textile used by women

Pre-Columbian weaving technique still being used serves to perpetuate the ancient Cakchiquel zigzag and feather patterns.

The textile is woven on a back strap loom in a plain warp-faced weave of paired warps and wefts. Laid over this are patterns woven in single faced brocade on a discontinuous supplementary weft. Since three breath huipils are a typical characteristic of huipils from this village (O'Neale), this textile was probably meant at one time to be a huipil.

Textile made from three widths of red material with yellow and white stripes, and the three pieces are sewn together lengthwise with an uneven fringe at one end. One face is embellished with geometric multicoloured patterns except for an undecorated plain red square at the centre.