Artwork Page for Tunic

Details / Information for Tunic

Tunic

c. 300 BCE–200 CE

Peru, South Coast, Paracas (Cavernas) style

Medium
Alpaca wool: plain weave with embroidery and warp substitution
Measurements
Overall: 94 x 83.8 cm (37 x 33 in.); Mounted: 111.8 x 101.6 cm (44 x 40 in.)
Credit Line
The Norweb Collection 1946.227
Public Domain
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Location
232 Andean
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Did You Know?

Fine textiles were one of the most prestigious commodities in the ancient Andes.

Description

Brightly dyed wool yarns found in many ancient Peruvian textiles come mainly from alpacas that were domesticated and selectively bred to produce long, soft, lustrous fiber. The finely spun yarns in a broad range of colors as seen on this tunic—well preserved after approximately 2,000 years of burial—attest to the Paracas people’s considerable artistry. A double-headed bird motif appears multiple times throughout the tunic’s design.
A dark green woven textile tunic features complex red and orange embroidery. A vertical slit marks the neck. Intricate red bands frame the top and bottom edges, while a central checkerboard pattern alternates dark green squares with red squares containing blocky, stylized figures. Long dark green fringe descends from the bottom hem, and thick red fringe with green accents flows from the left and right sides.

Tunic

c. 300 BCE–200 CE

Peru, South Coast, Paracas (Cavernas) style

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