As you will know from my blog I am fascinated by patterned weaving, particularly belts and bands. I have been researching these items for a number of years. My main focus is on northern Europe but I also have examples from other countries as well. Whenever I travel I always look out for woven bands. I have been fortunate in that a few people have donated their belts to me.
All my purchases are carefully wrapped in archival quality tissue paper and kept in sealed boxes. I bring them out for talks and for research. I have already donated a few to a museum, but I thought that I should get my paper work up to date. I have spent some time taking a quick photograph of all of my acquisitions. I measured them all and I am writing a detailed( as far as I can) description of each band and belt. I am intending to donate them eventually to a museum and I thought that this information would be invaluable.
A few years ago, my next door neighbour kindly gave me three woven belts from Paraguay. She had worked there for a year in 1976. She was given three belts as a present. I did not have any further details than this so I asked if she could tell me any more about these particular belts.
This is the Faja belt that intrigued me because it is heavy and sturdy.
Large belt: Length 209 cm Width: 10.5 cm
Fringes: 20 cm
She found a great video from El Estribo in the Paraguayan Chaco.
She also spent some time translating it which entailed remembering her Spanish. It was very kind of her to take the time and effort to do this. Here is the transcript.
El Estribo video:The Southern Enxet People: Women of El Estribo Sell Handicrafts
Elodia Solano: “I’ve been working with crafts for many years. I learnt from my mother and my grandmother. From the time I was five years old I enjoyed it and I learned watching my mother work.”
[‘caraguata’: a type of hemp grown in Paraguay]
“I do all kinds of work with hemp, [making things] like belts, bags, key rings, bracelets, necklaces. I make them all with hemp. I also make products with wool, things like belts [fajas], ponchos, horse blankets [?], these I make with wool from sheep.
Besides [that] I also have experience. Sometimes they invite me to Asunción [capital city of Paraguay]. I get money for my journey from among my people [or family?] and I go. Along with the products of other craft workers: they put a price on and I take theirs too.
What a shame that in Paraguay our compatriots don’t buy many of our products! The prices that we charge seem dear to them. Why are those prices high? Firstly, because it costs us a lot to get the products out of here. We rent vehicles, and besides that we have to walk great distances to get the materials from the bush.
For example, take the hemp plant, it has many spines/thorns and it’s hard work to get the fibre clean. We have to process it three times for it to become ready. Then we make the yarn and soon afterwards we begin the work of the fabric [weaving?]. Working with the Carandilla Palm demands the same effort.
However, foreigners do buy from us; they appreciate us. They just ask the price and buy straight away. Other times we don’t sell anything and we go back with all our products. We keep them until the next market [holiday?], and I take them again. I live tirelessly going back and forth. And I’ll never tire. Because this is my work.”
In the video Elodia Solano holds up a similar belt to the one I have. It was made for men who need extra back support when riding.
I have no idea if the individual motifs mean anything or if they are particular to a region, village or family.
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| Here are two of the motifs on my belt. |
If anyone has any further information I would love to know more about this belt.
January 2024
Susan J Foulkes
Susan J Foulkes
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