Minneapolis Institute of Art

Ceremonial punchu (poncho)

Quechua artist

Date

20th century

Medium

Alpaca

Culture

Quechua

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Punchus , or ponchos, became popular in the Andes during Spanish colonial rule (1533-1825). Following a Native uprising in the 1780s, the Spanish viceroy forbade tunics, believing them to be a source of indigenous nationalism. As an alternative, men began wearing ponchos, which were essentially tunics with open sides. They were quickly embraced as a new symbol of Native identity. Ironically, the Spanish military also appreciated the versatility of ponchos, adopting them as part of their uniform. Quechua, Bolivia, Americas

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.