Chamantos, Ponchos y Balandres en Colchagua y Rancagua (siglos XVII-XIX)

Abstract

We study the history of ponchos, balandres and chamantos from notary and judicialsources of Colchagua and Rancagua, from the early seventeenth century to the midnineteenthcentury. This source provides relevant knowledge about the presence ofthese tissues in chilean society, its social and economic value, its historical cycles andits color characteristics. It demonstrates the deep rootedness of tissue culture withinthe mestizo society of the Central Valley of Chile, and its ties to the tradition of theindigenous world. The existence of the chamanto from the decade of 1820 in thisregion, base of the current Denomination of Origin, is demonstrated.