Quipu Item Number: 2990/623 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Quipu, or string abacus. Small twill weave basketry pouch (part a) holding part of a knotted cord quipu (part b; incomplete). The quipu has white, brown and dark brown coloured cords.
History Of Use
The quipu is a series of colored cords with knots tied into them, all formed around a main cord. Each knot represents a decimal unit, from ten to one hundred. The last long cord could be the sum of all of them (in this case the total would be 525).
Item History
- Made in Peru between 1476 and 1534
- Collected between 1950 and 1975
- Owned by Alan R. Sawyer
- Owned by Erika H. Sawyer before January 15, 2013
- Received from Erika H. Sawyer (Donor) on January 15, 2013
What
- Name
- Quipu
- Identification Number
- 2990/623 a-b
- Type of Item
- quipu
- Material
- plant fibre and cotton fibre
- Part A
- height 3.7 cm, width 9.5 cm, depth 6.7 cm
- Part B
- height 10.5 cm, width 21.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Inca
- Previous Owner
- Alan R. Sawyer and Erika H. Sawyer
- Received from
- Erika H. Sawyer (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- between 1476 and 1534
- Collection Date
- between 1950 and 1975
- Ownership Date
- before January 15, 2013
- Acquisition Date
- on January 15, 2013
Other
- Item Classes
- basketry
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 2990/0623 a-b