15th Century & Earlier Large Framed Pre-Columbian Woven Textile Fragment from Chimu Chancay Culture

Details

Description

A large fragment of antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu or Chancay culture located in Central and Northern Coast of … Read more A large fragment of antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu or Chancay culture located in Central and Northern Coast of nowadays Peru. Chancay culture thrived in the late Intermediate period/ late Horizon circa 1000-1470 CE until it was incorporated by Chimu Culture on the further northern coast. Chimu culture was later conquered by Inca Empire in late 15th century.
The panel appears to be part of a large shawl or mantle indicated by its size and the presence of bottom fringes. Woven from different fine wool and camelid fibers of multiple colors, the panel consists of part of the main portion of the mantle in a solid dark brown color. Underneath is a wide band of ocher color a row of anthropomorphic figures in four repetitive colors of pink, yellow, red and brown.
These stylized figures with their frontal pose and horned head and large eyes are a frequent motif in Chimu/Chancay textile. The bottom edge of the panel has wide slit fringes.
The textile is beautifully float mounted within mat of complimentary colors and presented in a lovely dark wood frame with oil rubbed finish.
Provenance: From an American collection collected in Peru in 1970s. Hence by descent.
For reference and illustration of humanoid motif, see page 141-156 of "Ancient Peruvian Textiles" by F. Anton. See less