Poncho K´ama.

Quechua - Aymara ethnic group. Sucre. Bolivia. Mid 20th century.

Piece woven with sheep's wool, on an oblique loom, using the four-edge warp-faced technique, in two panels joined later with ornamental stitching. It presents an exceptional geometric design of 16 streets of Ikat or "huatado", according to the aboriginal artisans. Measurements. Length: 158 cm / 62.2 in. Width: 156 cm / 61.41 in.

The Ikat consists of tying the area of ​​the warp threads that you want to preserve in their original color, before weaving them and immersing them in the dyeing bath. Then, when they are stretched on the loom and these ties are untied, these areas will retain their natural color, presenting the drawing. We can consider the high quality of this poncho taking into account the polychromy of the streets of ikat and its complexity

Another element to consider is the fineness of the fabric despite the firmness of the fabric obtained, considering that -as its name indicates- it was used interchangeably as a poncho during the day and as a blanket at night. Hence its name: Poncho K’ama or Poncho Camero. (1)

It is common to see today in the bus terminals of the Argentine Northwest, local passengers, already natives of Bolivia, Peru and even Ecuador, who travel with a blanket or synthetic fiber bed blanket, a cultural trait inherited from centuries ago when transfers involved several days and the cold of the Altiplano nights surprised them in inhospitable places.

Notes:

1. Kathy Barth, Teresa Oroza: Traveling Bolivia through the wonders of weaving. Ed. Jackson International, 2001, p. 92.

S.O.VI-DOM