Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Paracas, ca. 500 to 300 BCE. A colorful textile fragment handwoven from camelid wool (alpaca or llama), in hues of yellow, red, moss green, and navy blue. The piece depicts a stylized feline animal, and the tail curves upward, forming a second creature. The linear creature is supported by four legs and stares outward with a grinning face. This animal may be a representation of a feline deity or spirit, such as the pampas cat or jaguar. Jaguars were not common in the Paracas area of Peru but known throughout the Andes for their legendary qualities. One edge of the panel is hemmed with a thick border which was probably attached to the woven panel after it was completed. The panel is displayed in an acrylic case to protect the fibers, which are remarkably vibrant and well preserved! Size (textile): 9.5" L x 4.5" W (24.1 cm x 11.4 cm); (case): 13" L x 7.6" W x 2.125" H (33 cm x 19.3 cm x 5.4 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-private Brooklyn, New York, USA collection

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#171641

Textile is fragment of a larger piece as shown. Fraying and unraveling to peripheries. Motifs are clear and vibrant. Displayed in modern acrylic case.