This “coctelera,” or cocktail napkin, is a miniature tourist-trade object, but it is nevertheless a good example of traditional Maya woven and embroidered textiles. This small panel of cloth was likely woven on a typical Maya backstrap loom, with a tapestry weave of stripes in yellow, black, red, and white thread; combinations of the thread colors create the brownish-black background. A bird motif has also been added to the fabric, using either a floating-weft brocade technique or an embroidery technique. Maya textiles often incorporate bird motifs such as chickens, peacocks, and turkeys; the wings and the upright tail feathers of this bird, along with the crested head, suggest that this depiction shows a domesticated turkey.

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu