Group of Ancient South American Textiles. Provenance: ex Jean Lions Collection, Geneva, Switzerland (1951-1980). Including: 1) Headband, Wari Culture. Complete 4 selvedge headband in very fine alpaca tapestry; 2) Tunic Fragment, Nazca Culture, Very fine tapestry fragment of the side of a tunic woven in checkerboard repeat of a proliferous style involving 14 connected profile trophy heads in two color schemes. Seam is left center of image; 3)Tapestry band, Nazca Culture. Very fine tapestry alpaca band of serial trophy heads with tongues extended; 4) Tunic border, Moche culture. Tapestry alpaca border with chevrons and trophy heads amidst characteristic lattice weaving; 5) Tunic fragment, Provenance: ex Jean Lions Collection, Geneva, Switzerland (1951-1980). Moche Culture. Fine tapestry fragment of the shoulder of a rare, elaborate, elite tunic depicting opposing warriors from related Moche tribes meeting in combat, wielding battle axes in one hand as they hold the "hair" or serpent like power projections emanating from the head of their opponent. Very balletic. Perhaps war was decided in ritual personal combat between cultural leaders. Their legs and feet are bare except for ankle bracelets while they wear fine, elite decorated tunics and headbands. 6) Half Tunic, Chancay or Huacho, Quismancu Federation. Unusual tapestry and complemental weft open shirt likely closed when used depicting all over diamond forms bounded by dark blue stripes encasing serial profile pelicans and the double headed serpent; and Tunic border Fragment, Late Moche Culture. Exceptional alpaca tapestry border fragment to a white cotton tunic of the late Moche. Profile, crawling, long tailed, four-legged creature with power emanations. Bottom trim is comprised of opposed latch hooks and pyramids. Ranging in Size from: 8'' x 6.5'' (20 x 17 cm) to 31.25'' x 19.5'' (79 x 50 cm).

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