Description:

Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Nazca, ca. 500 to 700 CE. A beautifully crafted, ornamental textile tassel comprised of camelid fibers in magenta, golden ochre, umber, and white hues, the tightly woven handle featuring repeated stylized visages, perhaps representing trophy heads, comprised of bold features, the tassel comprised of ample twisted threads. Comes in a handsome display case as shown. Size: 10.125" L (25.7 cm); 9.25" W x 15.375" H (23.5 cm x 39.1 cm) in display case

The Nazca are known for their fine textiles and created wonderful articles from llama and alpaca wool long before cultures of the north coast appreciated camelid wool. While other cultures cherished textiles, the desert environment of the Nazca thankfully preserved pieces like this example. Disembodied trophy heads were popular imagery rendered on Nazca pottery and other forms of visual culture. In Nazca culture - and other ancient Peruvian cultures - the decapitation and ritual use of human heads was common; many mythical figures and kings known from Nazca pottery are shown holding trophy heads or in the presence of trophy heads. This tassel shows the unassociated trophy heads, with no one holding them, which is a style of depiction found only to Nazca art. Over one hundred mummified trophy heads have been recovered from Nazca excavations, demonstrating that such trophy head motifs stemmed from actual rituals.

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan USA collection acquired over twenty years ago

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#123591

  • Condition: Some loose yarns as shown, but overall the piece is in excellent condition with vivid imagery and strong hues.

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July 11, 2017 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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