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Panel

A work made of cotton and wool (camelid), slit tapestry weave with outlining wefts.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of cotton and wool (camelid), slit tapestry weave with outlining wefts.

Date:

Possibly 500/600

Artist:

Nazca
South coast, Peru

About this artwork

This panel includes figures that combine human and animal features, a theme frequently explored in art from throughout the ancient Andean region. The design consists of two groupings of abstract anthropomorphic beings (possibly deities) wearing ornate whiskered feline masks, headdresses, and ear ornaments. Appendages and heads radiate from the figures in all directions, which produces a design that can be read from various viewpoints. The multiple heads suggest otherworldly powers and may represent the heads of defeated, decapitated warriors, taken as trophies.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Culture

Nasca

Title

Panel

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 500 CE–600 CE

Medium

Cotton and wool (camelid), slit tapestry weave with outlining wefts

Dimensions

67 × 45.1 cm (26 3/8 × 17 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Kate S. Buckingham Endowment

Reference Number

1955.1723

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/85375/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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