The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Tunic with Double-headed Serpents

Tunic with Double-headed Serpents

400–200 BCE
(700 BCE-1 CE)
cotton; gauze
folded: 68.3 x 65.4 cm (26 7/8 x 25 3/4 in.)
Dudley P. Allen Fund 2005.17
Location: 232 Andean

Description

Gauze weave was used to pattern this tunic with interlocking, double-headed serpents that may
have had mythical or supernatural significance. By manipulating the density of the fabric to create the design, the weaver may have sidestepped a limitation of cotton, which did not readily take dyes.
  • Ancient Andean Textiles (Gallery 232 rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 8, 2023-December 8, 2024).
    Gallery 232- Andean Textile Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 23, 2017-August 27, 2018).
    The Andean Tunic: 200 BCE - 1650 CE. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (organizer) (March 8-October 16, 2011).
  • {{cite web|title=Tunic with Double-headed Serpents|url=false|author=|year=400–200 BCE|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2005.17