Band Fragment
1000-1476
Medium
cotton and wool (camelid), slit and interlocking tapestry weave
Dimensions
46.5 × 6.3 cm (18 1/4 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85056
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Band Fragment* hails from the Lambayeque culture of Peru's North Coast, between 1000 and 1476 CE, just before the Inca conquest. Crafted from cotton and fine wool sourced from camelids like alpacas or llamas, this narrow textile strip (46.5 × 6.3 cm) exemplifies the Andean mastery of weaving. Likely part of a larger garment, belt, or ceremonial band, it survives as a testament to the Lambayeque people's advanced textile traditions, which rivaled their renowned goldwork in sophistication. The fragment's slit and interlocking tapestry weave technique is particularly noteworthy. ...