The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Band (Headband?)

c. 650–850

Central Andes, Moche-Wari Style, mid-7th to mid-9th century

Camelid fiber (alpaca; weft) and cotton (warp); tapestry weave
Overall: 59.4 x 10.8 x 8.3 cm (23 3/8 x 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2014.389
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This unusual band may have been worn as a headband.

Description

This jewel-like textile, perhaps the only one of its kind, is made from a single band accordion-folded to form tabs, each edged with lush red tassels. Repeated in different colors down its length is the image of a warrior who holds an axe in one hand and a jagged, club-like object in the other. The reversed orientation of several of the warriors may be the result of the weaving method.
  • “Exhibitions Through May 2022.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 62, no. 1: 8-9. Reproduced: P. 9. archive.org
    Lavalle, José Antonio de. Huari: Culturas Precolombinas. Lima: Banco de Crédito del Peru, 1984. p. 92
    Bergh, Susan. “Acquisition Highlights 2014: Pre-Columbian and Native North American Art.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 55, no. 2 (March/April 2015): 12-13. Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 13 archive.org
  • Ancient Andean Textiles. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 4, 2021-December 4, 2022).
  • {{cite web|title=Band (Headband?)|url=false|author=|year=c. 650–850|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2014.389