Chancay or Chimu Textile Fragment with Birds

Pre-Columbian Era, Chimu or Chancay Culture, c. 800–1300 AD, North Coast Peru

This fascinating textile fragment features a three-square design depicting birds, crafted from dyed camelid wool (alpaca or llama) and possibly cotton warps. Created using the slit tapestry technique, the fabric exhibits delicate slits outlining the birds’ bodies, enhancing their visual definition. The piece retains a fringed edge, suggesting it may have originally been part of a larger shawl or garment hem.

Preserved through burial and funerary practices, this textile still boasts vivid hues of red, tan, yellow, and light brown, reflecting the mastery of Andean weavers in both technique and artistic expression. Textiles held immense cultural and ceremonial significance in Chimu and Chancay societies, often serving as elite status symbols, ritual offerings, or burial goods.

This exceptional textile not only highlights the sophisticated craftsmanship of Pre-Columbian Peru but also serves as a rare glimpse into the artistic traditions and cultural heritage of the Andean civilizations.

Excellent condition. Age-related wear. Loose threads, tears and holes. Stains, soil, dirt and dust. Size approx. 29,0cm x 9,0cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection. Acquired in Bolivia in 1975.