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House Post

MOA: University of British Columbia

3289/60

Painted house beam. Object is a slice of a tree trunk, covered in white plaster on the front, with the bark left on the back. The part that has been plastered is painted with natural pigments. The beam would be read bottom to top. At the bottom is one of the patron saints; San Juan Bautista. In phrases divided by various patterns, such as flowers and llamas, the beam depicts a range of daily activities such as sowing seeds and weaving. The persons represented are named in writing. At the top of the beam is the sun.

  • Narrative

    This is a reproduction of a Sarhua house beam originally made by Canchari and Pomacanchari in November 1957. Venuca Evanan Vivanco is working to build a new Empresa Comunal de Sarhua on her family's land in Delicias, Lima. She hopes to revitalise Sarhuino artistic traditions. This piece (and the others bought from her) were held in Lima for a month following their purchase, because of controversy in the press following the acquisition by MALI (Museo de Arte de Lima) of some original testimonial paintings from Sarhua. The museum was accused of supporting terrorism.

  • History Of Use

    These beams are painted collaboratively for newlyweds, and are an important means of transmitting cultural knowledge to the younger generation. The people of Sarhua traditionally paint the wooden beams of their houses with depictions of family genealogies and religious and social rituals. These beams demonstrate syncretism in that the base shows Catholic saints, while the top of the beam always shows the sun. The inclusion (importance of) the sun relates to the Incan Sun God - Inti, the national patron of the Incan state. These beams often register the act of making the beam for the newlyweds. The beams are handed over to recipients in a ceremony called the "tablapaycuy" (in Quechua).

  • Type of Item house post
  • Culture Peruvian
  • Measurements height 241.0 cm, width 27.0 cm, depth 6.0 cm (overall)
  • Creator Venuca Evanan
  • Field Collector Laura Osorio
  • Previous Owner Laura Osorio
  • Received from Laura Osorio, Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget, Michael O'Brian Family Foundation
  • Made in Sarhua
  • Creation Date during 2018
  • Collection Date between 2017 and 2018
  • Ownership Date before April 11, 2018
  • Acquisition Date on April 11, 2018
  • Item Classes paintings
  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3289/0060

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