Tunic

Item number Sf808 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

The rectangular textile has many step-triangle patches in red, yellow, dark blue and green sewn together. Most patches have a pattern of light coloured circles and across one end, a diagonal line. The lines in the patches are arranged throughout the textile to form diamond shapes. Other patches have large red diamond shapes with a dot in the centre on a yellow-orange background. The patches are sewn together with a dark blue thread. The textile is approximately one half of a tunic. Z-spun, two ply s.

History Of Use

This is a distinctive tunic type usually associated with Middle Horizon cultures, although an example from Camana has Early Intermediate associations (p.c., A. Sawyer). The tunics are widely distributed and Rowe suggests Huari influence is behind the wide distribution. One such tunic is on an unwound mummy in the Ica Museo, Peru.

Iconographic Meaning

The meaning of the step-triangle and circle in the Middle Horizon is not clear. William Conklin suggests the step-motif on Middle Horizon Huari tapestry tunics means 'mountain' (p.c., Berkeley, 1982).