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Textile Fragment
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This fragment, one of several in the collection, is a rare survivor of catastrophic rains that destroyed much of the Moche textile legacy and may have helped to bring about the decline of Moche culture. It depicts a serpent and a snail beneath a hovering raptorial bird—perhaps a snail kite, a type of hawk named after its favored food. The size of the motifs implies that the original textile was large; a mantle (a shawl-like garment) or a hanging are among the possibilities.
| Artist / Maker | Peru, Moche, north coast |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 50–650 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Peru, Moche, north coast |
| Medium | cotton and camelid fiber |
| Dimensions | Overall: 39.4 x 27.9 cm (15 1/2 x 11 in.) |
| Department | Textiles |
| Type | Textile |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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