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Tunic
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Brightly dyed wool yarns found in many ancient Peruvian textiles come mainly from alpacas that were domesticated and selectively bred to produce long, soft, lustrous fiber. The finely spun yarns in a broad range of colors as seen on this tunic—well preserved after approximately 2,000 years of burial—attest to the Paracas people’s considerable artistry. A double-headed bird motif appears multiple times throughout the tunic’s design.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Paracas (Cavernas) style |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 300 BCE–200 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Peru, South Coast, Paracas (Cavernas) style |
| Medium | Alpaca wool: plain weave with embroidery and warp substitution |
| Dimensions | Overall: 94 x 83.8 cm (37 x 33 in.); Mounted: 111.8 x 101.6 cm (44 x 40 in.) |
| Department | Textiles |
| Type | Textile |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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