“Poncho de Sesenta Listas” (Poncho with Sixty Stripes)
Peribebuy, Paraguay to Corrientes, Argentina|
Late 19th century
Cotton, indigo dye, woven in 4 panels
Silk, cotton; woven of two loom width halves and joined at center. An added separately woven fringed band is attached around the neck opening as well as around the poncho
Size: 54 x 76 inches (137 x 193 cm)
A “poncho” from the vast border region between Paraguay and Argentina. Such ponchos were extremely prestigious and culturally emblematic in the 19th century, being worn by aristocratic landowners, ranchers, even presidents. (For example, a similar poncho was owned by General Sarmiento, who was an enormously important figure during this period of Argentine history). The style is derived from striped ponchos worn by Jesuits in the missions established in the area in the 17th century.
