MUSEO IXCHEL
(MI-05177)
Huipil
Zunil, Quetzaltenango
Linguistic community: K’iche’

Huipil made with two panels woven in the backstrap loom. The two panels are joined in the center and around the neck, cut in the shape of a “V”. The sleeves are hand embroidered with yellow flowers and green leaves.

In Zunil constant changes have been documented throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and this textile is a sample of this dynamism. In the past, the huipil did not have so many warp stripes; many older huipils only have warp stripes in the center of the garment, which has been preserved. The color of the weft of the huipiles has also been modified, but this detail is almost imperceptible due to the design of the warp or vertical threads.

The purples, blues and yellows, more traditional colors, stand out. However, it is worth mentioning that at the end of the 20th century a palette of 21 different tones in a single huipil became evident. The embroidered flowers have also varied, because sometimes they have covered the central part of the huipil and in others, on the contrary, they are embroidered with moderation.

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