Serpent ornament
Unknown Artist
1450–1532 CE
Medium
Cotton, camelid hair
Dimensions
W. 1 × L. (includes tie) 34 in. (2.5 × 86.4 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Inca (?)
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993
Accession Number
1994.35.113
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Serpent Ornament**, woven from cotton and camelid hair (likely alpaca or llama wool), dates to Inca Empire's flourishing period (1450–2 CE). Measuring just 1 inch wide and 34 inches long including its tie, this delicate textile exemplifies the Incas' mastery of weaving, a craft central to their society. Produced in the Andes, where such fibers provided exceptional durability and vibrant dyes, it served possibly as a ceremonial accessory, amulet, or elite adornment, reflecting the culture's reverence for finely crafted textiles as symbols of status and spirituality. The serpen...