The Macana, or Paños de Gualaceo is a traditional shawl worn by women in Ecuador's Azuay province. The body of this piece features overall small floral and grape leaves motifs in indigo-dyed warp ikat technique. The color is slightly faded. The two fringes/flecos bear the words "Escudo de Peru". On either sides of these words are plants with tall stems and tendrils rising out of pots. A bird is seen perching above each plant. Intriguingly, the piece bears two different dates: one fringe is dated 1941, while the other is dated 1942. The capital letters "R" and "P" appear on either side of these dates. These initials most likely refer to the "Rio Protocol," the formal agreement signed in 1942 to end the 1941 armed conflict between Ecuador and Peru.
