Aksu Woman’s Matrimonial Dress, Province of Arque, Dept. of Cochabamba. Early/Mid 19th C. Natural dyes. Alpaca. Featured in the exhibit Weaving Traditions of Highland, Craft & Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, 1978. This beautiful and exceptionally large piece is an excellent example of the dying, fine spinning and precise weaving of the women. The central ground area was warped in three colors, in a technique called chimi. The aksu gained widespread prominence in the during the Inca period (A.D. 1430-A.D. 1532). The garment was wrapped around the body, belted, and fastened at the shoulders with a decorative pin called a topo. The Spanish thought the garment exposed too much flesh. They subsequently imposed upon the native women the tailored wool dress of the Spanish peasants and the women wore their aksus as an overskirt. The finest ceremonial aksus, such as this one, were worn by women as part of the matrimonial costume. Made in two pieces, the colorful bottom half features a rainbow of colored horizontal stripes and patterned weaves. The top half is usually simpler, consisting of alternating wide monochrome bands with decorative patterned stripes. Size: 4'4'' x 4'8'' (132 x 142 cm).

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