Large Framed Pre-Columbian Embroidered Textile from Chimu Culture

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An antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu or Chancay culture in central and Northern coast of nowadays Peru. Chancay culture … Read more An antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu or Chancay culture in central and Northern coast of nowadays Peru. Chancay culture thrived in the late Intermediate period/ late Horizon circa AD. 1000-1470 until it was incorporated by Chimu Culture on the further northern coast. Joined in the middle and with fringes on the ends, the panel appears to be a tunic, indicated by the overall integrity. The background fabric was tightly woven with fine camelid fiber in a natural ochre color. The unique decoration lies on the elaborate embroidery top: four anthropomorphic warrior figures with raised arms and headdresses were rendered in colorful threads of red, orange, brown and green. Beyond them, two rows of stylized sea birds in an assortment color line up in opposite direction. The panel is largely intact, and the colors remain vibrant. The textile is professionally displayed on a dark linen background in a dark wood frame with gilt trim.
Provenance: From a private American collection acquired in Peru circa 1970s. Hence by descent.
Reference: For an embroidered Chimu Panel with warrior and bird, see Object Number: 1978.412.12 i the collection of Metropolitan Musuem of Art, NYC.
For reading on the bird motifs in Chancay textile art, see page 141-183 of the book "Ancient Peruvian Textile" by F. Anton. See less