Chancay Bone Weaving Sword

Pre-Columbian era, Chancay culture, 1000–1470AD, Peru

This fabulous hand-carved bone weaving sword, crafted from llama or alpaca bone, is a remarkable artifact from the Chancay culture (1000–1470 AD), a pre-Columbian civilization renowned for its textile mastery.

The weaving sword, also known as a beater or batten, was an essential tool in the weaving process, designed to securely push the weft yarn into place. In small-scale hand weaving, such as band weaving and tablet weaving, the beater was sometimes combined with the shuttle into a single, multifunctional tool. Given the Chancay people’s expertise in textiles, tools like this were integral to their daily life and artistic traditions.

Chancay weavers specialized in delicate gauze work and employed a rich palette of yellows, browns, scarlet, white, blues, and greens. Their fabrics, made from llama wool, cotton, chiffon, and even feathers, often bore intricate geometric patterns and stylized depictions of plants, animals (fish, cats, birds, monkeys, and dogs), and human figures. Textiles held profound cultural significance, symbolizing status, gender, wealth, and spirituality, and were frequently used for religious and magical purposes.

As part of their burial customs, the Chancay wrapped their deceased in multiple layers of cloth and interred them alongside grave goods, including weaving tools, which were likely regarded as vital for the afterlife.

A rare and historically significant artifact, this exquisite weaving sword stands as a testament to the skill and artistry of Chancay textile makers, offering a tangible connection to one of the most sophisticated weaving traditions of the ancient Andes.

Extremely well-preserved weaving sword. Age-related minimal wear. Beautiful smoothed patina. Size approx. 21,5cm x 2,7cm x 0,4cm.

Provenance: From the estate of Paul Ragnar Wedendal Sr. & Paul Wedendal Jr. Collected in the 1940's to 1950's.