Chief’s Poncho, Cacique trarican macuñ

Mapuche people, Chile
19th early 20th century
Wool; ikat
116 x 132 cm / 46 x 52 in
$9,000

The Mapuche fiercely resisted the incursions of the Incas and Spanish, preserving their ancient Araucanian culture and language. The stepped polygon pattern seen in white on this poncho is a sacred motif, sanitran, also observed as petroglyphs in the Patagonian Andes of Chile and Argentina. This weaving features a fabulous ‘hand,’ with great wool, deep indigo color saturation and is in excellent condition.