Woman's fiesta necklace
Maker: Tehuana culture
Medium:Gilt filigree
Geography: Juchitán de Zaragoza, State of Oaxaca, Mexico
Date: c. 2000
Object number: 2014.36.5
Credit Line: This acquisition was made possible with the generous support of the Kircheis Family Endowment Fund
DescriptionZapotec women on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec are known as Tehuanas. Their elaborate and flamboyant fashions became a symbol of national pride after 1920, when post-revolutionary leaders rejected European values and promoted ethnic diversity. Tehuanas wear a short huipil (tunic) and matching enagua (skirt), both embroidered with floral or geometric designs, and many gold ornaments. Ceremonial wear features a headdress of starched lace, known locally as a huipil grande. During the 1930s and 1940s, artist Frida Kahlo and other cultural figures adopted Tehuana dress to proclaim their allegiance to Mexican values and popular traditions.
