Textile Traditions of Chinchero: A Living Heritage

Overview

Hundreds of vintage and fascinating full-color photos illustrate this bilingual book that explores the traditional weavers of Chinchero, Peru, at work on their traditional dress and costume. From shearing the wool and dyeing and spinning the yarn to the final weaving on traditional backstrap looms, all the aspects of this traditional art are detailed, and pattern motifs representing flora, fauna, geographical features, farm tools, and more are cataloged and explained. The role of special textiles in the rituals and festivals of the community is documented and the evolution of weaving over four generations is told in the voices of the elders of Chinchero.

Reviews

“The armchair traveler, who might never otherwise visit Peru's remote weaving centers, will be amazed at the variety of designs that makes it possible for a knowledgeable observer to identify peoples' native villages by the style of their woven and knitted attire.â€Â  â€â€Library Journal

"As with other Thrums books this is a combination of beautiful illustrations, details and intriguing information. It is clear that the author knows and enjoys textiles and wishes to spread her love of the subject to a much wider public." â€â€Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, Director, Textile Research Centre

Author Biography

Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez is the founder and director of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, a consortium of 10 village weaving centers located throughout the Andean Highlands, with a gallery and museum in Cusco, Peru. She is the recipient of the Mountain Society Award for Preservation and the author of Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands.