Chancay Gauze Textile Panel with Felines and Birds

Peru, Circa 1000 to 1250 A.D. 

White cotton gauze woven textile panel with four horizontal rows of depicting several pairs of felines, probably jaguars, depicted with open toothy mouths and perked ears, and a large bird in-between each pair. Chancay textiles are extraordinarily varied and are almost without exception executed in a virtuoso manner. From gauzes and openwork embroidery to painted plain weave and tapestry, the most challenging avenues were explored. Openwork, ultimately derived from the ancient coastal fishing tradition of net making, reached new heights of lacy intricacy. On most gauze and openwork cloths, only the weaver could see the motifs during their creation because the threads pulled together when not under the tension of the loom. Hence, when the weaver removed the finished textile from the loom, its designs became illegible, especially if the piece was folded as in headcloths for women. This exemplifies the Andean value placed on essence over appearance. Overall excellent intact condition.

Size: 33”H. x 50-1/2”W. Framed under glass.

Provenance: Estate of David Sheridan, Branchburg, NJ., acquired 1950s to early 2000s, by descent to family.

References: Ancestors of the Incas, The Lost Civilizations of Peru’ by Kauffmann-Doig, Presented by Wonders. Ancient Peruvian Textiles, by Jose De Lavalle and Rosario De Cardenas. Integra AFP, 1999. Textile Art of Peru.  Mario Vargas Llosa.  Industria Textil Piura, 1991. To Weave for the Sun: Ancient Andean Textiles, by Rebecca Stone-Miller.  Thames and Hudson, 1992.