Nge-Nge is a motif of Mapuche weaving. The name comes from the Mapuche language, Mapudungun, in which nge means "eye", and the design is usually read as paired eyes. Mapuche weavers have described it as a window through which the soul is shown.
Mapuche weaving
Weaving is one of the great arts of the Mapuche, practised by women and passed down through generations. Textiles such as ponchos, sashes and blankets carry geometric motifs whose names and meanings are part of the weaver's knowledge.
The eyes
According to documentation of Mapuche weavers' own explanations, published through the Chol-Chol Foundation and held in an Argentine university archive, the Nge-Nge motif represents eyes as a window of the soul. It is a reminder that textile designs carry meaning for the people who make them, not only decoration.
Nge-Nge in jewellery
A Nge-Nge design honours Mapuche weaving and the weavers who keep its knowledge alive. See the AURYN Nge-Nge charm, or read about the Mapuche hawk.
