This rare hand-woven headcloth originates from the isolated Chipaya village in the Sabaya Province (formerly Atahuallpa) of the Department of Oruro, Bolivia. Dating to approximately the 1920s or 1930s, the textile is a significant cultural artifact from one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Andes, the Uru-Chipaya, who identify as Qhas Soñí or "people of the water". The headcloth is crafted from uncolored, natural alpaca fiber, prized for its warmth and resistance to the harsh, wind-swept high-altitude climate of the Salar de Coipasa region.

The textile features a minimalist aesthetic that reflects the Chipaya's millennial-old commitment to preserving their ancestral traditions. The main body is a finely woven, neutral-toned alpaca cloth, left in its natural ivory or cream state. This understated field is accented by a hand-stitched purple border, which provides a striking geometric frame to the garment. The use of purple thread, likely derived from early synthetic or rare natural dyes, serves as a refined ceremonial finish for a community that has lived as a cultural island for over a thousand years.

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