Minneapolis Institute of Art

Textile

Bolivia

Date

19th century

Medium

Wool

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This is a manta, a textile often worn over the shoulders by men and women. The garment most likely came from the Aymara region of present-day Bolivia and appears to be woven in a warp-faced pattern in which tightly spun warp yarns create small designs and stripes. This mantle’s central band has small geometric designs of repeating straight lines and crosses and features small birds, either representations of the animal or symbols with magical associations, perhaps referring to a sky deity. Americas

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