VICHITI, honey sponge

Citation

David Jabin, “VICHITI, honey sponge,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/272.
  • Overall presentation

  • Name : VICHITI, honey sponge

  • Creator : David Jabin

  • Contributor(s) : Rosita Friesen, village of Samaria, Nivacle Unida Comunity, Central Chaco, Paraguay (teaching of the figure).
    Reinelia Pérez, village of Samaria, Nivacle Unida Comunity, Central Chaco, Paraguay (video performing).

  • Date : 2019-2020


  • Information on the string figure

    • General presentation of the string figure

    This string figure represents a very particular tool common to all Chaco indigenous groups: a kind of sponge made of braided caraguata fibers that the Nivacle people call VICHITI. Collecting was a very important activity in the past and this activity continues where it is still possible to do it. this object does not seem frequent but everyone knows its form and use. The vichiti is introduced into the cavity of the tree to mop up the honey when it is not possible to collect it entirely. Then it is sometimes also used to dilute honey in drinking water to make a sweet drink.

    Construction method (ISFA)

    1. Loops in both W
    2. H rotate 360° anticlockwise while 1 pass Wf distally and pic kit up.
    3. Palms toward you, 5 pick up the upper palamr string.
    4. Alternatively, each 2 picks up the dorsal string of the opposite hand.
    5. Passing between 5 and 2 loops 3 and 4 seize 1n string and come back.
    6. Release 1.
    7. Distally insert 1 in 2 loop and, passing proximally to the for intermediate strings, pick up 5 f and come back while releasing 5.
    8. Release 2 and slowly extend.
  • Item references

  • Key words : String figures, Nivacle, paraguayan Chaco

  • Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)

  • Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

  • Format : jpeg, mp4, text If it is available, you can see the video with subtitles by clicking here

  • Language : Nivacle, spanish

  • Location : Village of Samaria, Boquerón Department, Paraguay, South America

  • Description : Nivacle string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects

Output Formats