Pre-Columbian, southern Peru, proto Nazca, ca. 500 to 300 BCE. One of the rarest examples of a proto-Nazca fringe we have seen. Usually found in the form of little human figures called munecas, or occasionally in the form of trophy heads, this fringe is massive and much more involved. Woven with camelid fibers (llama, alpaca) in shades of red, green, gold, brown, blue and white. The design is almost Rorschachian but to my eye there is clearly a long serpent slithering along the right half of the fringe with temples and other abstract geometric patterns throughout. Surviving due to the extreme arid nature where this was found, it boggles the mind that a textile this fine could survive in such condition after more than 2000 years. Stunning! Size of actual ancient panel: 70" L x 7.5" H (177.8 cm x 19 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, H. J. Westermann Collection, Germany

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#138977

Professionally conserved and mounted to black cotton backing. In very fine condition especially given that it is over 2000 years old.