Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Proto-Nazca, ca. 500 to 300 BCE. A beautiful textile border strip comprised of tightly-woven camelid (alpaca or llama wool) fibers in hues of periwinkle, wheat, cream, espresso, coral, citrine, and sage. The border presents 24 muneca (Spanish for "doll") figures with fused bodies, expressive faces, and thick locks of braided hair projecting above. Textiles would have been used in this culture in conjunction with polychrome vessels in ceremonies. They were ritual attire which were used as display objects, and ultimately in funerary contexts. Mounted on a fabric backing. Size (textile): 56.5" L x 5.75" W (143.5 cm x 14.6 cm); size (backing): 73" L x 21.125" W (185.4 cm x 53.7 cm).
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Jurgen Westermann collection, Germany, acquired 1950s to 1960s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#138985
Condition
Loss to one leg, fraying to some interior and peripheral threads, with light staining and fading to original coloration, and minor creasing. Colors are still visible and vivid.