Cleveland Museum of Art

Headcloth

Date

c. 600–400 BCE

Medium

embroidery on tabby cloth; needle reseau and fringe at border

Culture

Peru, South Coast, Paracas, Middle Period, c. 600-400 BC (Early Horizon, Epoch 10)

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The embroidered design consists entirely of felines, some of which are depicted with trophy heads. Both are very common motifs of Paracas art. The linear and highly stylized design as well as the limited spectrum of colors are characteristic of Paracas embroideries from the Middle Period. Extremely dry conditions on Peru's desert coast allow for the extraordinary preservation of textiles.

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