Cleveland Museum of Art

Two Tapestry-woven Panel Fragments

Date

1000–1460s

Medium

camelid fiber and cotton, tapestry weave

Culture

Central Andes, North Coast, Chimú people

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

These two fragments, mounted side-by-side, come from the Chimú ( chee- moo ) Empire of Peru’s north coast. Each features horizontal rows containing four frontal figures. The rows alternate with wider registers, each with an H shape that represents a litter seen from above. A form of transport reserved for only the most esteemed members of society, the litter would have been carried by human porters via poles at each corner. Scattered around each are small creatures, including birds, a fish (located beneath), and two insect-like creatures posed as if they were carrying the litter. The objects hovering above the litter have not been identified.

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