Mapuche silverwork is one of the best known aspects of Mapuche material culture.[2] The adornments have been subject to changes in fashion but some designs have resisted change.
The daughter of a lonko dressed in traditional Mapuche silverwork at around 1900.
Drawing of a trapelacucha, a silver finery piece, 20th century.[1]
Mapuche people had a gold-related cultural tradition that predates the Inca invasion.[3] In the 16th century, at the time of the Spanish conquest of Chile, Mapuches are reported by various chroniclers to have used gold adornments.[3] According to Zavala and co-workers (2021) the widespread gold-related toponyms in Mapuche lands and early Spanish reports of gold objects, plus the easiness for the Spanish to find gold mines suggests that gold mining did occur in Pre-Hispanic Chile south of Itata River, well beyond the borders of the Inca Empire.[4]
Historian José Toribio Medina posits that most of the Mapuche gold adornments were despoiled by the Spanish during the conquest.[3] Local folklore says much gold was also hidden from the Spanish and gold mines collapsed on purpose.[3] Gold mining became a taboo among Mapuches in colonial times, and gold mining prohibited under death penalty.[3] Prior to the Destruction of the Seven Cities serving the Spanish in gold mining had been a deadly activity that killed many Mapuches.[5] Some 17th-century Spanish sources specifically reject the notion that Mapuche used gold adornments or valued the metal.[3]
Development of silverwork
During the latter half of the 18th century, Mapuche silversmiths began to produce large amounts of silver finery.[6] The surge of silversmithing activity may be related to the 1641 parliament of Quillín and the 1726 parliament of Negrete that decreased hostilities between Spaniards and Mapuches and allowed trade to increase between colonial Chile and the free Mapuches.[6][7] In this context of increasing trade, Mapuches began in the late 18th century to accept payments in silver coins for their products; usually cattle or horses.[6] These coins and silver coins obtained in political negotiations served as raw material for Mapuche metalsmiths (Mapudungun: rüxafe).[6][7][8] By the 18th century silver had efectively filled the place gold previously had in Mapuche culture.[3] Old Mapuche silver pendants often included unmelted silver coins, a circumstance which has helped modern researchers to date the objects.[8] The bulk of the Spanish silver coins originated from mining in Potosí in Upper Peru.[7] The foreign origin of most silver (liqen, lien, lighen) explains why there is scarcity of silver-related Mapuche placenames relative to those referring to gold (milla).[3]
The great diversity in silver finery designs is indebted to the fact that designs were done to be identified with different reynma (families), lof mapu (lands) as well as specific lonkos and machis.[9] Mapuche silver finery was also subject to changes in fashion albeit designs associated with philosophical and spiritual concepts have not undergone major changes.[9]
In late 18th century and early 19th century, Mapuche silversmithing activity and artistic diversity reached it climax.[10] All important Mapuche chiefs of the 19th century are supposed to have had at least one silversmith.[6] The 1869 war between Chile and independent Mapuches provoked a famine among Mapuches in the winter of 1869, with the situation being worsened by a smallpox epidemic.[11] This situation led some Mapuches to sell their silver adornments in the towns of La Frontera to obtain food.[11]
As of 1984, Mapuche scholar Carlos Aldunate noted that there were no silversmiths alive among contemporary Mapuches.[6]
Appearance
Although these adornments showed some variation in form, the principal one appears to be a set of three separate columns of flattened silver links joined to each other by square alternating links. At the top of the set of columns, and holding them together, is a flat two-headed bird figure and at the base is a flat semicircle or trapezoid that usually has a series of small disks dangling from its base. The wearer would place the object hanging from his/ her neck and down the chest.
Notes
^Thiers, Karin M (2007). Reflejos plateados de la Luna. Valparaíso, Chile.
^ abcdefghPayàs Puigarnau, Getrudis; Villena Araya, Belén (2021-12-15). "Indagaciones en torno al significado del oro en la cultura mapuche. Una exploración de fuentes y algo más" [Inquiries on the Meaning of Gold in Mapuche Culture. A review of sources and something more]. Estudios Atacameños (in Spanish). 67. doi:10.22199/issn.0718-1043-2021-0028.
^Zavala, José Manuel; Dillehay, Tom D.; Daniel M., Stewart; Payàs, Gertrudis; Medianero, Francisco Javier (2021). "Los mapuche de Concepción y la frontera inca: revisión de fuentes tempranas y nuevos datos" [The Mapuche of Concepción and the Inca Frontier: Review of Early Sources and New Data]. Revista de Historia (in Spanish). 28 (2). doi:10.29393/rh28-30mcjf50030.
Painecura Antinao, Juan (2011). Charu. Sociedad y cosmovisión en la platería mapuche.
External links
National Museum of the American Indian−NMAI.edu: Mapuche Silverwork — in the collection of the Smithsonian NMAI.
January 07, 2023
mapuche, silverwork, best, known, aspects, mapuche, material, culture, adornments, have, been, subject, changes, fashion, some, designs, have, resisted, change, daughter, lonko, dressed, traditional, around, 1900, drawing, trapelacucha, silver, finery, piece, . Mapuche silverwork is one of the best known aspects of Mapuche material culture 2 The adornments have been subject to changes in fashion but some designs have resisted change The daughter of a lonko dressed in traditional Mapuche silverwork at around 1900 Drawing of a trapelacucha a silver finery piece 20th century 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Prior tradition of gold adornments 1 2 Development of silverwork 2 Appearance 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditPrior tradition of gold adornments Edit Mapuche people had a gold related cultural tradition that predates the Inca invasion 3 In the 16th century at the time of the Spanish conquest of Chile Mapuches are reported by various chroniclers to have used gold adornments 3 According to Zavala and co workers 2021 the widespread gold related toponyms in Mapuche lands and early Spanish reports of gold objects plus the easiness for the Spanish to find gold mines suggests that gold mining did occur in Pre Hispanic Chile south of Itata River well beyond the borders of the Inca Empire 4 Historian Jose Toribio Medina posits that most of the Mapuche gold adornments were despoiled by the Spanish during the conquest 3 Local folklore says much gold was also hidden from the Spanish and gold mines collapsed on purpose 3 Gold mining became a taboo among Mapuches in colonial times and gold mining prohibited under death penalty 3 Prior to the Destruction of the Seven Cities serving the Spanish in gold mining had been a deadly activity that killed many Mapuches 5 Some 17th century Spanish sources specifically reject the notion that Mapuche used gold adornments or valued the metal 3 Development of silverwork Edit During the latter half of the 18th century Mapuche silversmiths began to produce large amounts of silver finery 6 The surge of silversmithing activity may be related to the 1641 parliament of Quillin and the 1726 parliament of Negrete that decreased hostilities between Spaniards and Mapuches and allowed trade to increase between colonial Chile and the free Mapuches 6 7 In this context of increasing trade Mapuches began in the late 18th century to accept payments in silver coins for their products usually cattle or horses 6 These coins and silver coins obtained in political negotiations served as raw material for Mapuche metalsmiths Mapudungun ruxafe 6 7 8 By the 18th century silver had efectively filled the place gold previously had in Mapuche culture 3 Old Mapuche silver pendants often included unmelted silver coins a circumstance which has helped modern researchers to date the objects 8 The bulk of the Spanish silver coins originated from mining in Potosi in Upper Peru 7 The foreign origin of most silver liqen lien lighen explains why there is scarcity of silver related Mapuche placenames relative to those referring to gold milla 3 The great diversity in silver finery designs is indebted to the fact that designs were done to be identified with different reynma families lof mapu lands as well as specific lonkos and machis 9 Mapuche silver finery was also subject to changes in fashion albeit designs associated with philosophical and spiritual concepts have not undergone major changes 9 In late 18th century and early 19th century Mapuche silversmithing activity and artistic diversity reached it climax 10 All important Mapuche chiefs of the 19th century are supposed to have had at least one silversmith 6 The 1869 war between Chile and independent Mapuches provoked a famine among Mapuches in the winter of 1869 with the situation being worsened by a smallpox epidemic 11 This situation led some Mapuches to sell their silver adornments in the towns of La Frontera to obtain food 11 As of 1984 Mapuche scholar Carlos Aldunate noted that there were no silversmiths alive among contemporary Mapuches 6 Appearance EditAlthough these adornments showed some variation in form the principal one appears to be a set of three separate columns of flattened silver links joined to each other by square alternating links At the top of the set of columns and holding them together is a flat two headed bird figure and at the base is a flat semicircle or trapezoid that usually has a series of small disks dangling from its base The wearer would place the object hanging from his her neck and down the chest Notes Edit Thiers Karin M 2007 Reflejos plateados de la Luna Valparaiso Chile Painecura 2011 p 15 a b c d e f g h Payas Puigarnau Getrudis Villena Araya Belen 2021 12 15 Indagaciones en torno al significado del oro en la cultura mapuche Una exploracion de fuentes y algo mas Inquiries on the Meaning of Gold in Mapuche Culture A review of sources and something more Estudios Atacamenos in Spanish 67 doi 10 22199 issn 0718 1043 2021 0028 Zavala Jose Manuel Dillehay Tom D Daniel M Stewart Payas Gertrudis Medianero Francisco Javier 2021 Los mapuche de Concepcion y la frontera inca revision de fuentes tempranas y nuevos datos The Mapuche of Concepcion and the Inca Frontier Review of Early Sources and New Data Revista de Historia in Spanish 28 2 doi 10 29393 rh28 30mcjf50030 Bengoa Jose 2003 Historia de los antiguos mapuches del sur in Spanish Santiago Catalonia pp 252 253 ISBN 978 956 8303 02 0 a b c d e f Aldunate Carlos 1984 Reflexiones acerca de la plateria mapuche PDF Cultura Hombre Sociedad 1 Archived from the original PDF on 3 December 2013 Retrieved 13 November 2013 a b c Painecura 2011 pp 25 26 a b Kangiser Gomez Maria Fernanda 2002 Conservacion en plateria mapuche Museo Fonck Vina del Mar PDF Conserva 6 Archived from the original PDF on 2 December 2013 Retrieved 13 November 2013 a b Painecura 2011 pp 27 28 Painecura 2011 p 30 a b Bengoa 2000 p 224 References EditBengoa Jose 2000 Historia del pueblo mapuche Siglos XIX y XX Seventh ed LOM Ediciones ISBN 956 282 232 X Painecura Antinao Juan 2011 Charu Sociedad y cosmovision en la plateria mapuche External links EditNational Museum of the American Indian NMAI edu Mapuche Silverwork in the collection of the Smithsonian NMAI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mapuche silverwork amp oldid 1103264988, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
