Mantle Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–15th century
Medium
Cotton, camelid hair
Dimensions
Overall: 24 1/4 x 27 1/2 in. (61.6 x 69.85 cm) Other: 24 1/4 in. (61.6 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Chimú
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George D. Pratt, 1933
Accession Number
33.149.99
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Mantle Fragment* from Chimú culture of ancient Peru (12th–15th century offers a glimpse into the mastery of pre-Columbian textile arts. The Chimú, who flourished along Peru's northern coast during the Late Intermediate Period, were renowned for their sophisticated weaving techniques and vibrant garments. Mantles like this one served as elite status symbols, often worn by nobility in ceremonies or daily life, adorning the body with intricate patterns that conveyed cultural and spiritual significance. Woven from cotton and fine camelid hair—likely from alpacas or llamas—this fra...