The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 7, 2026

A horizontally long piece of plain-weave cloth is embroidered with alternating vertical bands of dark brown and dense, reddish-brown needlework. Within these sections, intricate patterns create complex, stylized figures that repeat across the surface. A fine, frayed fringe borders the top and bottom edges. The textile appears aged and worn, with uneven ends and scattered areas of loss, particularly on the left, highlighting its delicate, historic texture.

Headcloth

c. 600–400 BCE

Peru, South Coast, Paracas, Middle Period, c. 600-400 BC

(Early Horizon, Epoch 10)
embroidery on tabby cloth; needle reseau and fringe at border
Overall: 40.7 x 182.9 cm (16 x 72 in.)
The Norweb Collection 1940.529
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Extremely dry conditions on Peru's desert coast allow for the extraordinary preservation of textiles.

Description

The embroidered design consists entirely of felines, some of which are depicted with trophy heads. Both are very common motifs of Paracas art. The linear and highly stylized design as well as the limited spectrum of colors are characteristic of Paracas embroideries from the Middle Period.
  • ?-1940
    Emery May Holden Norweb [1895-1984] and Raymond Henry Norweb [1894-1983], Cleveland OH, 1940, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1940
    The Cleveland Museum of Art
  • Art of the Americas. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 9, 1945-January 6, 1946).
  • {{cite web|title=Headcloth|url=false|author=|year=c. 600–400 BCE|access-date=07 June 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1940.529