Name/Title
Shoulder bagEntry/Object ID
1984.13.089Description
Bag. Rectangular white textile bag with multicolor brocaded stripes and symbols, with a twisted fringe on half its top opening edge. The bag is created from one single fabric piece folded in half and hand sewn at the sides. The side stitching uses burgundy, beige and brown yarns, and switches between them to create a striped effect. Brocaded horizontally from top to bottom, there is one stripe with diamonds, a row with 3 individual diamond motifs, and another stripe with flowers (a flowering corn field). Both stripes have a break in their stripe and encase a single motif. The top motif closely resembles the butterfly symbol. The brocaded designs are the same on both sides and are achieved through discontinuous supplementary weft patterning. They are mostly done in burgundy, but also have black, beige, orange-brown, light pink-plum, yellow and brown-green yarns.
The brocaded designs are symbolic in Maya culture. The diamonds are designs of the universe, and symbolize the earth and sky as a unity. At the heart of each diamond is a butterfly, symbol of the sun and center of the Maya cosmos. Undulating forms, like snakes, symbolize fertile earth, and can oftentimes grow flowers and transform themselves into a cornfield.Artwork Details
Medium
cotton, wool yarn, vegetable dyeDimensions
Width
13-1/4 inLength
16 inDimension Notes
13.5'' width x 15'' length not including fringe (17'' with fringe)