Tunic
Unknown Artist
c. 1400–1540
Medium
tapestry; cotton and camelid fiber
Dimensions
85.1 × 76.2 cm
Classification
Textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of William R. Carlisle
Accession Number
1957.136
About this artwork
Finely woven interlocked tapestry garments were a privilege of the nobility within the Inca Empire. Such garments were made throughout the vast Inca territory by women of noble families, by professional weavers, and by the Aclla (Chosen Women). These specialists lived in cloistered communities and served the state by brewing beer and weaving fine cloth. The products of their labor were redistributed by the Inca state as prized gifts to loyal vassals and allies. The standardized decorative scheme...