Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca culture, ca. 200 to 600 CE. This is a stunning hand-woven textile cap made from camelid fibers (alpaca or llama wool), cotton and human hair! The upper panel consists of a stepped triangular register dyed in hues of coffee brown, crimson, and yellow ochre, sewn to a thicker band of checkered yellow, blue, orange, and maroon hues. The luxurious black and dark brown fringe is comprised of human hair, individual strands twisted together into thicker tassels. To the sides are a pair of cotton cords for tying this textile / wig to the wearer's head to function as an impressive headdress and coiffure! Size (textile): 23" L x 16" W (58.4 cm x 40.6 cm); (backing frame): 25" L x 18" W (63.5 cm x 45.7 cm)
Cf. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco's website, accession number: 2000.118.11
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, 1995 to 2010; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950-1960s
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#172113
Condition
Minor thread pulls and fraying to peripheries, but well preserved and choice condition. Professionally mounted on a cotton cloth backing over a wood frame and ready to display.