Colotenango huipil.

“The [Colotenango] huipil is short, relatively wide and is worn hanging loose outside the corte. The brocade often includes small, multi-colored diamonds or squares woven in a soumak technique” utilizing wrapped warp threads. (Centro de Textiles Tradicionales Nim Po’t.)

This circa-2000 huipil was hand woven on a back strap loom in three cotton/rayon blend warp-striped base panels that are joined by elaborate hand embroidered decorative seams in the shape of bees. The base fabric is a cotton/rayon blend called "aleman" and is prized for its softness and drape. The panels are decorated with very finely done supplementary brocade in typical Colotenango geometric designs. The center panel is wider and more heavily decorated. The head and arm openings are trimmed with multicolored hand embroidery. It is in very good condition. It was acquired from Nicolas Mendez Bocó at the Mercado des Artesanos in Antigua. W 87 x L 49 cm. (17-64) $ 180. OBO