Tapestry Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–15th century
Medium
Camelid hair, cotton
Dimensions
Overall: 15 x 19 1/2 in. (38.1 x 49.53 cm) Other: 15 in. (38.1 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
33.149.95
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Tapestry Fragment** from Chimú culture, dating to the 12th–15th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated textile artistry of ancient Peru's north coast. Crafted from camelid hair (likely alpaca or llama wool) and cotton it measures 15 x 19½ inches and exemplifies the Chimú's mastery of woven textiles. The Chimú, who flourished before the Inca conquest around 1470, were renowned for their urban centers like Chan Chan and produced some of the finest Pre-Columbian fabrics in the Andes. The tapestry technique here—interlocking weft yarns to create vibrant, pictorial desig...