Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Nazca to Chimu / Inca culture, ca. 200 to 1500 CE. A superb simple cotton panel covered with colorful bird feathers to create an animal's head in profile! Specialized artisans would usually attach the feathers onto cords which were sewn to the plain cotton backing. The feather tips are then cut and shaped to create the desired pattern. The preservation of textiles and feathers is simply astounding, the colors are still quite bright, and the blue and red feathers are probably from macaws. Clothing such as tunics and cloaks were made from feathers for the wealthy and elite, the iridescent colors were spectacular in the sunlight, making naturally dyed cloth pale in comparison! Size: 10" L x 6.5" W (25.4 cm x 16.5 cm)

Colorful feathers were prized materials in Andean cultures and used by the elite for clothing and ornaments. Avian motifs and the use of feathers were symbolic in Andean cultures, for birds were sacred animals that could fly between worlds and were messengers for the gods. These ancient cultures had a complex relationship with birds – especially the rainforest species - their stunning plumage was highly desirable and worth nearly the same as precious metals. It is possible that live, caged birds as well as their plucked feathers were imported from the lower altitudes to supply this demand.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#186140

  • Condition: Fragment of a larger piece with cut edges. Losses to feathers and some shedding to feathers and fibers when handled, and are very delicate. Dark staining on verso. We highly recommend framing this under glass to preserve and prevent further shedding.

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May 11, 2024 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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