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Museum Collections - Ancient Peru - Chimú - Artifact #3
WHO: Chimú culture
WHERE: North coast, Peru
WHEN: Late Intermediate Period, A.D. 1200-1450
WHAT: Fragment from a larger cloth with part of a stepped diamond outline; possibly from the central motif of a mantle woven from 3 panels. Various birds and fish are depicted, including condors shown in profile with embellished raised wings. The condor was a common subject in highland Andean art. As a master of the skies which preyed upon a great many creatures below, the condor was an important symbol of power. However, this textile is from the coast, not the highlands. Made by the Chimú, this is a rare example of a condor among pieces from this location and time period.
Fragment Height: 28 cm
HOW: Plain weave ground cloth, cotton warp and weft; supplementary camelid weft.
MUSEUM: Textile Museum of Canada. T81.0043
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