Colcha
NameColcha; Quilt
Artist
Artist Not Recorded
Place madeNEW MEXICO, United States, Southwest, North America
MediumWool
Dimensions101 9/16 × 55 1/8 in. (258 × 140 cm)
Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1954.10
Object numberA5.1954.10
DescriptionOf hand-spun natural wool warps and wefts, approximately 5 to 6 threads per cm. This is solidly embroidered all over with wool in wavy stripes and bands and the often found three-petalled floral unit, possibly derived from a pink. Between the wavy bands area bands of diamonds or triangles. The entire color scheme is of indigo, natural and dark brown natural wool. The indigo is worked of the same strength of dye but it has been used on two kinds of wool yarns, so that the outer scallops of the blue forms give the impression of a different shade of blue, although it is the difference in texture of the yarn, and not the shade of blue, which actually gives this impression. With B 89/43 this is one of our two best examples of this class of embroidery, as both were consistenly executed in even stitches, and well planned patterns, and both are in fine condition. Note: Textile fragment L5.52.13 has similar pattern of embroidery with different colors: flame, pink, yellow, brown, beige, and soft green. It also came from vicinity of Taos or northern NM. Width is of two strips: 56.5 and 83.5 cm each.
