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TEXTILES

Matra mapuche. Argentina o Chile. Finales del siglo XX.

Remarkable Mapuche fabric, made on a vertical loom with sheep's wool, warp face and four edges. The garment with its mirrored symmetry is made up of rhombus and small combs. Measurements: 110 x 112.5 cm / 43.3 x 44.3 in.


Its shape is barely rectangular, of generous size. The symmetrical composition, following the opinion of the Chilean scholar Pedro Mege, indicates the use of the male implement. In his understanding, the matras are part of the "fabrics with sex", and he explains that those with their displaced decoration correspond to a woman's mat. (1) The leading presence of the rhombus in the ornamentation of the piece alludes to a representation of the cardinal points, of central importance in the Mapuche culture (2), in which all the propitiatory ceremonies are performed facing East, at the exit of the sun.


The truth is that executed by Mapuche weavers, their use spread to the gaucho's implement, who distinguishes them as the most appreciated for their functionality and beauty. This is how Justo P. Sáenz expressed it in his classic work, “Gaucho riding”, stating: “There are them from various origins, the“ pampas ”woven by the Indians of this partiality being the most famous for the quality of their preparation and beauty of colors ”. We are now facing a high quality specimen.


Note:

1. Pedro Mege Rosso: Mapuche textile art. Santiago, Ed. Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, 1990, p. 54.

2. Enrique Taranto, Jorge A. Marí: Textiles for traditional use. Buenos Aires, Argentine Creole Association, p. 93.


S.O.H-XI-GBEM


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