Miniature Tabard
Unknown Artist
1600–1700
Medium
Cotton, camelid hair, silk, metal
Dimensions
H. 14 1/2 x W. 11 in. (36.8 x 27.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Inca and Spanish
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Penny Righthand, in memory of Richard I. Levine, 2007
Accession Number
2007.470
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Miniature Tabard*, between 1600 and 1700, exemplifies the vibrant textile traditions of the Inca and early Spanish colonial cultures in the Andes. Measuring just 14½ by 11 inches, sleeveless tunic—worn historically by Inca elites over clothing or armor—stands as a delicate model, possibly created for ceremonial, educational, or display purposes. small scale highlights the extraordinary precision of Andean weavers, who produced full-sized garments renowned for their symbolic patterns and social status. Woven from cotton, camelid hair (such as alpaca or vicuña for its luxurious ...