Artwork
Coca Bag
DepartmentLatin American Art
Date20th century
MediumWool and cotton
Dimensionslength: 22 1/4 in. (56.5 cm)
width: 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
depth: 3/8 in. (1 cm)
width: 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
depth: 3/8 in. (1 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from the Latin American Folk Art Acquisition Fund
Object number2005.19
GeographyPlace madeBolivia
General regionSouth America
DescriptionBrocade woven coca bag (chuspa) made in Bolivia; plain weave with pattern areas in double-faced weave using complementary warp sets. Intricate figure work with horses, people, llamas and chickens. The horses are vestiges of Spanish influence; tubular edge binding.
The estimated age of the bag is 30 to 40 years old. The larger opening holds the coca leaves and the smaller opening holds the lyme used to activate the leaves. Coca bags like this resemble pre-Inca prototypes from Nazca and Ica, Peru.Label TextChuspas are used primarily for carrying coca leaves, which are used throughout the Andean region for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. Chuspas from Tarabuco, a community in southern Bolivia, are generally small, flat, and decorated with colorful animal designs against a white background.
Chuspas se utilizan principalmente para transportar las hojas de la planta de coca, que son ampliamente usadas en toda la región andina por razones medicinales y rituales. Las chuspas de Tarabuco, una comunidad en el sur de Bolivia, son generalmente pequeñas, planas, y con coloridos diseños de animales sobre un fondo blanco.
(LA, 2020)Not on view
Collections
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
