Artwork Page for Two Textile Fragment with Fanged Heads

Details / Information for Two Textile Fragment with Fanged Heads

Two Textile Fragment with Fanged Heads

500–200 BCE

Peru, South Coast, Ica Valley, Chavín style

Medium
cotton: plain weave patterned by fiber-wrapped warps and supplementary wefts
Measurements
Overall: 112 x 61.2 cm (44 1/8 x 24 1/8 in.); Mounted: 123.8 x 72.4 cm (48 3/4 x 28 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1985.139
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Fanged heads are common markers of the supernatural in Chavín art.

Description

These two rare fragments of equal size and mounted side by side feature fanged heads connected by a fanged mouth band. Each band ascends as a column above a rectangular, disembodied eye that implies the original presence of large figures or heads beneath the bands. Fanged heads are common markers of the supernatural in Chavín art, an early style that developed in the highlands of Peru. The original textile may have served as a ceremonial wall hanging.
Two vertically oriented orange-tinged beige textile fragments join together to form two columns of three abstract, geometric fanged head-like shapes. Their eyes are brown-outlined squares with a dark square inside and a light brown border outlining the top. The heads, outlined in brown, extend up from a larger rendition of this shape at the base of each column. Two narrow, rectangular fangs extend from either side of the faces' squared nose.

Two Textile Fragment with Fanged Heads

500–200 BCE

Peru, South Coast, Ica Valley, Chavín style

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