The Maya of Guatemala:- Their Life and Dress

Guatamala City: Ixchel Museum - Distributed By the University of Washington POress - Seattle, 1976. First Ediiton . Hard Back. Very Good/No Dust Jacket. 10" X 12. 274 Pages Indexed. Orange-Red cloth with gold spine lettering. Two endpaper maps in the back. The text is in bi-lingual columns with English on the left and Spanish on the right. Illustrated with 60 full-page color plates and twenty pen and ink drawings. There are several fold-out reproductions of water colors. Few books have been written on Guatemala other than its archaeology.The Maya Quiche Indian keeps out of sight though in certain places roads cut through his agriculture land disrupting his life, breaking his traditions and inducing his children misguidedly to leave the land to look for employment in the city. Miserable huts cling to the steep sides of canyons without water or drainage, inhabited by these souls lost to the Maya race. Studies have been made of the ancient weaving methods for their clothes are unique and beautiful in pattern and colour. The author, a landscape painter, became interested in the Maya clothing that is so visually attractive. In this book he has recorded how the Maya sits and stands and how he lives. The beautiful paintings in this book are now in the care of the Ixchel Museum of Guatemala and they show the range of strength and sensitivity watercouour can achieve with correct paint and paper. Contents in 18 Chapters: Short History, Popol Vuh Momostenango, Indians I Have Known, Saccapoulas, Origing Weaving and Dyeing, Joyabaj, Chichicastenango, Nahuala, A Day in my Life in Santa Lucia Utatlan, Confraternities, Solola, Mixco, San Pedro / San Juan Sacatepequez, Docotr in the Highland Plateau, Three Villages, San Martin Chile Verde, Coban and Senahu, and Alta Verapaz. Plus Glossary.