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Details / Information for Tunic

Tunic

400–200 BCE

Peru, South Coast, Ica Valley, Ocucaje site?, Paracas people

Medium
looped camelid fiber
Measurements
Average: 94 x 82.6 cm (37 x 32 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
The Norweb Collection 1940.514
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The red dyes in this tunic likely come from madder root.

Description

The striking, large-scale figure shown on this tunic has an elaborate, monkey-like tail as well as head appendages that mark the creature as supernatural. This tunic, a relatively rare type, was made not on a loom but rather by working the yarns into loops with a needle. It is made entirely with camelid fiber, which can readily be dyed in a range of vivid colors. The fiber comes from one of the four camels (camelids) native to the Andes Mountains—the alpaca and llama, both domesticated, and the wild guanaco and vicuña. On the coast, it represents a prestige import.
A looped camelid fiber tunic features a narrow vertical slit and shaggy red fringe along three edges. Centered against a dark brown ground, a cream humanoid figure with raised arms, an open mouth, and a nested red and orange diamond torso dominates the composition. Vertical bands of yellow and orange zigzags frame each side, while smaller geometric stepped and triangular motifs are interspersed throughout.

Tunic

400–200 BCE

Peru, South Coast, Ica Valley, Ocucaje site?, Paracas people

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