ANSÓ – Churros
NAME: Churros (‘os churros’)
DESCRIPTION:Pair of black female churros (hairpiece) used for the classic “churros hairstyle” of the women of Ansó. The “churros hairstyle” owes its name to this element, it is a hairpiece that is attached to the hair by winding it with the trenzadera (ribbon strand). The churros are circular in section, filled with flock and lined with black cotton taffeta. Both churros are joined together with black cotton taffeta ribbon, and with tie ends of 35 cm also of black cotton taffeta ribbon. A red ribbon called “trenzadera” is also used to elaborate the hairstyle (red for young and single women, if the woman was married or in mourning, she wore a black trenzadera). To make the hairstyle, the hair is parted in the middle and the mane is divided into two long locks. With the trenzadera, the hair is rolled up and joined to the churro to form two kind of tubes. Finally, these two long tubes (of the hairpiece and hair lined with ribbon strand) are crossed and placed around the head forming a kind of crown. The churros hairstyle could sometimes be covered with a crocheted hairnet and a silk handkerchief (“o tocau”). Together with the basquiña and the shirt, this type of hairstyle constitutes one of the oldest elements of the Ansó costume. At the time of the Catholic Monarchs (end of the 15th century) the “tranzado” or the so-called “cofia de tranzado” was very fashionable. This is a hairstyle of similar characteristics, which was also widespread in Italy throughout the Renaissance. In the 19th century, with the neoclassicism, similar hairstyle typologies were taken up again.
DIMENSIONS: Length of each churro = 75 cm. Width = 2.5 cm. The two churros together = 176 cm.
MATERIAL: cotton, flock
TECHNIQUE: taffeta, stuffing, satin
DATATION: 19th century
PLACE OF PROVENANCE: Ansó, Jacetania Region (Huesca – Spain).
Details gallery
General view
Rolled
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ANSÓ – Silk Ribbon (“a trenzadera”)
NAME: Silk Ribbon ("a trenzadera") DESCRIPTION: this ribbon is called "trenzadera", and it is used to wrap the churros with the woman's natural hair, giving rise to the classic "churros hairstyle" of the Ansó Region. The color of the braid also had its meaning. Young...
ANSÓ – Shoes
NAME: Shoes DESCRIPTION: Pair of women's flat shoes in black leather, with tongue, laces and rounded toe cap. The buckle features a series of eyelets with black crisscrossed cotton laces that tie the shoes. The sole is leather, attached to a rubber heel. It's the most...
ANSÓ – Petticoat (as inaguas)
NAME: Petticoat (as inaguas) DESCRIPTION: This petticoat is a garment to be worn under the skirt. Made in cotton with striped print in different shades of blue, red and dark grey. The skirt is attached to the waist by a small gathering. It has two black cotton braids...
ANSÓ – Scapular
NAME: scapular DESCRIPTION: the scapular is part of the adornments worn by women, it is a protective element. It is also worn by girls when they wear the saigüelo colorau (red smock) and in the past it was even hung on cradles to protect children. It consists of two...
ANSÓ – Earrings
NAME: Earrings DESCRIPTION: Pair of female girandole earrings in gilded metal. They are composed of five bodies and are articulated as follows: button at the top (where the attachment hook to the earlobe begins), a bow as the central part from which three almonds or...
ANSÓ – Sofocante
NAME: Sofocante (Choker) DESCRIPTION:The sofocante is one of the most eye-catching and elegant jewels of the women's clothing from Ansó. It is a silver or copper jewel, generally over-gilded, that hangs from the neck with a red silk or velvet ribbon as a choker. The...
ANSÓ – Reliquary
NAME: Reliquary DESCRIPTION: This type of medallion is called "relicarios" (reliquary), although they do not contain any kind of relic inside. It is placed in the center of the cockade as a breast rose along with the other "platas".This reliquary, in particular, is...
ANSÓ – Crucifix
NAME: crucifix DESCRIPTION:A large crucifix (13.5 cm high) made of silver openwork filigree. This piece is placed in the center of the cockade and is part of the set of jewels and adornments called "as platas".The arms of the cross are topped with gilled balls formed...
ANSÓ – Figures of the Virgin of the Pilar
NAME: Figures of the Virgin of the Pilar DESCRIPTION: These are two small sculptures of the Virgin of the Pilar as a pendant but larger than a normal pendant (12 cm high and 4 cm wide) to be placed on both sides of the "escarapela" (cockade). Both are twins and of...
ANSÓ – Chain
NAME: chain DESCRIPTION: feminine chain of 2 meters long in golden metal. It has open links in the shape of a folded eight in the center. These links, when joined together, give the chain a triangular shape. The jewels ("as platas") of the rosette, for security and to...
ANSÓ – Escarapela
NAME: Escarapela (Cockade) with "as platas": Virgin of The Pilar (x2), reliquary and crucifix (joined by a chain) DESCRIPTION:the "escarapela" is the ornamental element of circular or rosette shape that is placed on the chest, it is composed of numerous silk ribbons...
ANSÓ – Sleeves
NAME: “As mangas” (oversleeves) y la cinta (ribbon). DESCRIPTION: We are faced with two independent pieces, on the one hand "As mangas" (oversleeve) and, on the other, the silk ribbon. The ones we see here are elegant pieces designed for the festive dress. As the...
ANSÓ – Shirt
NAME: Shirt DESCRIPTION: The shirt, like many other shirts of the traditional costumes, is made in linen, specifically, homespun linen taffeta, ecru (white), and is much longer than a current shirt, reaching almost to the knees. It is one of the most outstanding...
ANSÓ – Basquiña
NAME: Basquiña DESCRIPTION: basquiña smock in black and green wool cloth, with a small tight-fitting body, cut at the bottom of the chest and edged in yellow and red. The word basquiña designates a skirt in historical clothing; however, the Pyrenean villages of Hecho...