The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 17, 2025

Two side-by-side vertically long tapestry fragments depicting alternating patterned bands with red backgrounds and divided by strips of blue wave-like shapes on yellow. A row of four pink, wiry figures with white specks for eyes, teeth, and nails adorn one band. The next band, double the height, features a central square with two extensions on either side which flanking insect-like creatures support. Further geometric creatures surround the structure. Yellow, green, and light-blue colors dominate.

Two Tapestry-woven Panel Fragments

1000–1460s

Central Andes, North Coast, Chimú people

camelid fiber and cotton, tapestry weave
Overall: 88 x 51 cm (34 5/8 x 20 1/16 in.); Mounted: 99.1 x 63.5 cm (39 x 25 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1985.7
Location: 232 Andean

Description

These two fragments, mounted side-by-side, come from the Chimú (chee-moo) Empire of Peru’s north coast. Each features horizontal rows containing four frontal figures. The rows alternate with wider registers, each with an H shape that represents a litter seen from above. A form of transport reserved for only the most esteemed members of society, the litter would have been carried by human porters via poles at each corner. Scattered around each are small creatures, including birds, a fish (located beneath), and two insect-like creatures posed as if they were carrying the litter. The objects hovering above the litter have not been identified.
  • Turner, Evan H. “The Year in Review for 1984.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 72, no. 2 (April 1985): 163–207. Mentioned: p. 205, no. 141; Reproduced: Cover www.jstor.org
  • Ancient Andean Textiles. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 14, 2024-December 14, 2025).
    Gallery 232- Andean Textile Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 28, 2018-August 26, 2019).
    Andean Gallery 107 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 29, 2004-April 12, 2005).
    Year in Review for 1984. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 3-May 5, 1985).
  • {{cite web|title=Two Tapestry-woven Panel Fragments|url=false|author=|year=1000–1460s|access-date=17 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1985.7