Minneapolis Institute of Art

Woman's ceremonial blouse (Huipil)

Maya artist

Date

c. 1955

Medium

Cotton and silk, discontinuous weft patterning

Culture

Maya

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

In parts of Guatemala, highly decorative blouses like this one were worn over the skirt and without a belt for celebratory occasions such as a wedding. This elaborately patterned woman's blouse (huipil) was constructed from three separately woven four selvedge panels. It took a great deal of time and considerable skill to make. In a society where weaving skills are highly valued, such as highland Guatemala, this blouse would be very much admired and appreciated by all who saw it and would have special significance for the woman wearing it. Maya, Americas

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