Head Cloth Item Number: Sf828 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
The cloth is a sheer rectangle of crepe-like texture with a white and brown pattern. The pattern is resist-dyed with rectangles arranged in diagonally repeating rows. The rectangles are white and two shades of brown with a dark brown outlining around each. Some rectangles have a brown dot in the centre. The cloth is composed of two loom widths joined by an almost invisible seam.
History Of Use
Lightweight cloths of this type that have been excavated were originally folded and piled on the head of the mummy (Tsunoyama). They are found in simple and elaborate burials and were probably worn on the head during life as well. They are presumed to be women's head cloths (Rowe).
Iconographic Meaning
The hook motif in coastal textiles is interpreted as a 'wave' symbol by some (p.c., Elizabeth Benson; Tsunoyama) although an older derivation appears to be from intertwining serpent borders.
Item History
What
- Name
- Head Cloth
- Identification Number
- Sf828
- Type of Item
- cloth
- Material
- cotton fibre and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, sewn and resist dyed
- Overall
- height 132.0 cm, width 97.0 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- between 900 and 1476
- Collection Date
- between 1949 and 1966
- Ownership Date
- before May 4, 1981
- Acquisition Date
- on May 4, 1981
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0711/0330