Floral Colcha
Date1865-1875
MediumChurro Wool, cotton cordage, cochineal, natural and synthetic dyes
Dimensions92 1/2 × 53 in. (235 × 134.6 cm)
ClassificationsTextile, Fiber Arts, & Beadwork
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation from the Lucia v.B. Batten Estate
Object numberPC2015.26.13
DescriptionA Hispanic New Mexican colcha embroidery made of churro and vegetal, natural dyes.Identified as native plant green by Irvin Trujillo, 12/05, and cochineal red and natural peach and yellow by Marian Rodee, 10/05. According to Irvin, the fringe may have been added later. The rows of flowers, which reverse directions, are probably morning glories. Ric Rao (9/4/2018) identied the orange-red colors of the field and fringe as dyed with madder, and the red flowers may be cochineal.
Style: Wool on wool, plain weave sabanilla, colcha stitch
Warp and weft: Natural 1-ply, Z-spun beige 4-piece sabanilla
Embroidery: Paired natural 1-ply, Z-spun brown and coyote
Paired natural 1-ply, Z-spun beige, partly raveled
Indigo 1-ply, Z-spun blue
Vegetal (?) 1-ply, Z-spun yellow, light green, and green
Synthetic or natural 1-ply, Z-spun peach, raveled (madder?)
Synthetic or natural 2-ply, S-ply, Z-spun red (cochineal?)
Seams: Natural 1-ply, Z-spun beige wool; multiple-ply commercial cotton
Sides and ends: Hemmed with peach 1-ply, Z-spun material, raveled to make fringe
21 and 24" widths (madder?)
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