Headband or Belt Fragment
1476-1532
Dimensions
44.5 × 5.7 cm (17 1/2 × 2 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85146
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment, likely a headband or belt from the Empire (1476–1532 CE), offers a glimpse into one of the most advanced textile traditions in pre-Columbian South America. Created during the height of the Inca civilization in the Andes, such pieces were woven in state-controlled workshops, where skilled artisans produced luxury goods symbolizing power and prestige. Measuring 44.5 × 5.7 cm, this narrow strip from the Art Institute of Chicago Textiles collection exemplifies the Incas' mastery of weaving, though its exact medium remains unidentified—likely fine camelid fibers like alpaca...
About the Artist
Inca
Inca artists, operating anonymously within the vast Inca Empire from approximately 1425 to 1532 CE, were masterful creators whose works symbolized imperial power and unity across the Andes. Thriving in the heart of Cuzco, the empire's capital, these skilled artisans—men and women alike—produced textiles, ceramics, and metalwork that served both practical and ceremonial purposes. Gifted craftspeopl...