This striking handwoven folk art textile brilliantly demonstrates centuries-old Mapuche weaving traditions. Handwoven on the ancestral witral loom. Every thread of native sheep’s wool was meticulously spun by hand, transforming raw fleece into an intricate, multi-banded masterpiece of sacred geometry. The crisp, geometric design tells an ancient story of cosmic balance, woven by master artisans who have passed down these rhythmic movements through generations to bring the warmth and wild romance of the Argentine south into the modern home.
Provenance: This runner carries a rich transatlantic legacy, preserved for over half a century by a private family collection. Originally woven in the vast, windswept plains of Argentine Patagonia, the textile belonged to the daughter of an Italian-born classical pianist and Buenos Aires music conservatory founder. When she emigrated from Argentina to the United States in the late 1960s to marry her fiancé, she brought this cherished piece of her homeland with her. It remained a beloved heirloom for decades through her years in New York and Miami, serving as a vibrant connection to her roots. Today, this runner is offered from her estate, ready to bring its storied past and wild Argentine romance to your collection.
History: The Mapuche people are native to both sides of the southern Andes, but their textile traditions evolved with distinct regional presence in the Argentine provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, and Chubut.
Era: 1950s, Mid Century
Origin: Argentina
Length: 37" (plus 2" fringe on each end - 41" fringed total)
Width: 18", 19 1/2" respectively
Weight: Approximately 1 lb.
Materials: Sheep's wool, all natural.
Colors: Cream, beige/light brown, and dark brown
Pattern: Geometric, Rombo
Style: Indigenous Textile, Folk Art, Mapuche Textile Art. Technique: Witral (loom) weaving.
Technical Craftsmanship: The outer fields showcase an exceptionally dense and precise execution of nested geometric motifs - a structural feat requiring absolute mastery of warp-faced thread counting on the loom. This tightly pixelated texture requires flawless tension control and a massive thread density on the loom, serving as a direct hallmark of elite, collector-grade Mapuche handcraft.
Edge Finish: Features an ancestral finishing step utilizing a closed-warp system where the weft is woven seamlessly right to the edge boundaries, displaying the advanced technical planning of a master weaver.
Fringe Technique: Distinctive, hand-secured looped fringe bundles where the uncut turnaround loops of the warp threads remain intact, preserving the complete structural integrity of the loom process.
Care Instructions: (100% Wool - Do Not Soak) Dust: Shake out. Deep Clean: Dry clean only.
Please Note: Sale is final. Please ask any questions prior to purchase. A signature will be required upon delivery. We do not ship to freight forwarding addresses. Secure, fully insured transit is guaranteed to protect your investment.
