Man's Garment
Unknown Artist
15th century (?)
Medium
Camelid hair
Dimensions
H. 37 in. × W. 37 1/2 in. (94 × 95.3 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Peru
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of John B. Elliott through the Mercer Trust, 2000
Accession Number
2000.160.24
Art Historical Context
This striking *Man's Garment* 15th-century (?) Peru invites us into the masterful world of pre-Columb Andean textiles. Crafted camelid hair—likely sourced from alpacas or vicuñas, animals native to the high Andes—this woven square measures 37 by 37½ inches, perfect for a poncho-like wrap. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas, entered the collection in 2000 as a gift from John B. Elliott through the Mercer Trust. In ancient Peru, textiles were more than clothing; they were cultural treasures symbolizing wealth, identity, and skill. Came...