Mapuche Trariwe: Silver Belt Craft

Silver of the Southern People

The trariwe is a broad silver belt — the most important piece of Mapuche women's traditional jewelry. Worn wrapped around the waist over the chamall (traditional wrap dress), the trariwe is both ornament and spiritual protection. Its production belongs to the Mapuche silversmith (rütrafe), one of the most respected artisan roles in Mapuche society.

Silversmithing Tradition

Mapuche silversmithing (rütrafe work) developed after Spanish contact introduced silver coins and objects to southern South America. Mapuche artisans melted down silver coins to create jewelry — a practice that transformed colonial currency into indigenous cultural expression. Techniques include hammering, casting, and repoussé (hammering from the reverse to create relief designs).

Spiritual Dimensions

In Mapuche cosmology, silver (liwen) is associated with the moon, water, and feminine energy — complementing gold (milla), which represents the sun and masculine energy. The trariwe protects the wearer's reproductive center and connects her to the spiritual world. The trariwe's broad surface often features cosmological symbols — the kultrun drum pattern, the four directions, and the tree of life.

• Rütrafe: Mapuche silversmith, respected artisan
• Materials: melted silver coins, hammered and cast
• Spiritual: feminine energy, moon association
• Machi ceremonies: spiritual communication tool
• Designs: cosmological symbols, four directions