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

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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 tunic indicated by its size and the presence of bottom fringes. It is woven from fine wool of multiple dyed colors. The composition is made up of wider bands with lined-up seabirds in sideview profile alternate with thinner band with chevron wave and dots. Note that the neighboring bands of the birds show opposite direction as well as different color on any given neighboring birds, a detail as a window to the aesthetic and technical sophistication of the weaver. The colors, despite of an overall fading, still clearly shows the shades of red and green vegetable dyes in addition to the bright white.
The textile is displayed on a white linen backing under an acrylic shadow box and ready to hang.
Reference: For reading on the bird motifs in Chancay textile art, see page 141-183 of the book "Ancient Peruvian Textile" by F. Anton.
A panel with nearly identical bird design is illustrated on plate 134 of the above book. See less