Boyaca, a state in Columbia , is well known for a tradition of excellent artistic workmanship. Boyaca; was inhabited by the Muisca, an important pre-Hispanic culture recognized by their hand knotted textile ability, before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. In modern times, men and women of this region are knotting by hand (macramé) beautiful shawls and scarves using silk ribbon (galon de seda). All work from the comfort of their home.

To make the shawls and scarves, different threads are knotted intermingling creating amazing artistic designs.  An artisan takes about three full days to make a shawl and each artisan may vary the design from shawl to shawl.
 
Ancient civilizations used this technique to make fish nets. The art of macramé was taken to Spain with the conquest by the Moorish who dominated Spain for many centuries; it extended to the rest of Europe and then to the Americas with the Spanish discovery of the Americas.
 
Sailors were key in keeping this ancient art alive. To past the time at sea, sailors used to make macramé objects that later will sell or barter at ports.  Little by little, macramé started to develop into more artistic work and the penetration into elegance began during the Victorian era.  Early in the XX century, fashion called for macramé everywhere.

The size of the macramé shawls may vary slightly from one to the other but they are overall between 60”-65” length x 28” width x 17 ½” fringe.  The shawls are triangular in shape.

Click on Shawls to learn about other type of shawls and their history.