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Fragment

A work made of two panels joined: cotton and wool (camelid), slit and single dovetailed tapestry weave with eccentric and wrapping outlining wefts; one panel embroidered with laced running stitches.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of two panels joined: cotton and wool (camelid), slit and single dovetailed tapestry weave with eccentric and wrapping outlining wefts; one panel embroidered with laced running stitches.

Date:

A.D. 1000/1476

Artist:

Lambayeque
Probably north coast, Peru

About this artwork

The central scene woven into this panel displays a bird-headed anthropomorphic figure with a crescent-shaped headdress, possibly representing the otherworldly figure known as the Sicán Deity or a human impersonator of this legendary leader of the Lambayeque. In this depiction, the figure holds a ceremonial knife, called a tumi, and is engaged in a brutal ritual human sacrifice, likely a decapitation. Another victim hangs by a long rope wrapped around his neck. The borders and horizontal bands of this panel reiterate the theme of human sacrifice as they contain repeated depictions of trophy heads or bound captives—most likely, enemy warriors taken in battle.

The two additional scenes above and below display composite amphibian-butterflies that may allude to metamorphosis or hallucinogens involved in the sacrificial ritual.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Culture

Lambayeque

Title

Fragment

Place

Peru (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1000–1476

Medium

Two panels joined: cotton and wool (camelid), slit and single dovetailed tapestry weave with eccentric and wrapping outlining wefts; one panel embroidered with laced running stitches

Dimensions

60.3 × 14 cm (23 3/4 × 5 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Kate S. Buckingham Endowment

Reference Number

1955.1722

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/85370/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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