Tunic
CulturePeruvian, Nazca
Date200 B.C.E-700 C.E.
MediumWoven fiber and dye
DimensionsFramed: 50 3/8 × 73 3/8 × 2 5/8 inches (127.95 × 186.37 × 6.67 cm)
Credit LineGift of Fifi White
Object number2001.31
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionTwelve rectangular compartments (two vertical and six horizontal) comprise this textile. The compartments consist of alternating colors (green, red, and dark red). Small, circular tie-dye patterns cover the entire surface.Gallery LabelNazca peoples wore tunics on a daily basis and during ceremonial occasions. Some of the finest examples were buried with the dead. According to Nazca belief, ancestors were powerful, and one way to honor them was to wrap their bodies in beautiful textiles. This practice resulted in body bundles that sometimes reached five feet in diameter.
The interplay between the tie-dye patterns and the blocks of color enhances the dynamism and beauty of this tunic.
The interplay between the tie-dye patterns and the blocks of color enhances the dynamism and beauty of this tunic.
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