Iscayo - Ceremonial Woman's Mantle, Early 19th C., Pacajes, Department of La Paz. Alpaca warp and weft. Natural Dyes 48" x 42". This mantle was featured in the exhibition on Highland weaving traditions at the Craft and Folk Museum in 1978. The lscayo was worn by the chiefs wife, T'alla, for special festivals, especially during Corpus Christi when the Pleiades first appear in the Southern Hemisphere skies, and also for Todos Santos when the community visits the graves of their revered ancestors. The iscayo is one of the most recognizable and coveted heirloom textiles. This piece is unusually fine and evenly spun, with a surface sheen produced by the high lanolin content of fine alpaca yarn. It demonstrates two atypical white color stripes on each side of the center seam, denoting the high status of its owner. It features six natural blue indigo dyed bands and a natural cochineal red dyed center, both on a natural alpaca chocolate brown ground. As shaman, the T'alla wore her iscayo during numerous rites such as coca leaf reading and divination. Size: 48'' x 42'' (122 x 107 cm).

This is a NO RESERVE AUCTION: there are no hidden or confidential reserves, all acceptable bidding commences at the online START PRICE. Please let us know if you would like to receive a condition report or have any specific questions regarding the condition of a lot. Condition reports will be sent during the week prior to the auction, and can be requested via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone: 215-438-4700. Absence of a statement to condition in the description does not construe a statement of any kind. Please refer to Terms and Conditions of the sale.