Inka peoples / Tunic / 15th-16th century

Inka peoples
Tunic
15th-16th century
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Creator Nationality: South American; Pre-Columbian; Inca
Creator Name-CRT: Inka peoples
Title: Tunic
Title Type: Object name
View: Full View
Creation Start Date: 1400
Creation End Date: 1599
Creation Date: 15th-16th century
Object Type: Costume and Jewelry
Classification Term: Textiles-Woven
Materials and Techniques: Camelid hair, cotton
Dimensions: 37 x 29 3/4 in. (94 x 75.6 cm)
AMICA Contributor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Owner Location: New York, New York, USA
ID Number: 33.149.100
Credit Line: Gift of George D. Pratt, 1933
Rights: http://www.metmuseum.org/
Context:

Inka tunics, called unku in the Quechua language of the Andes, are usually longer than they are wide. They were made from a single piece of cloth, the loom length being the width of the shirt-that is, they were woven sideways, with the warp in the short direction, and then folded over. The sides were sewn together, leaving holes for the arms at the top. The slot for the neck was woven with discontinuous warps. Fine tapestry tunics like the present example were items of great prestige and value during Inka times. Their ownership and use were strictly controlled by the state. They were commonly bestowed as royal gifts by the emperor to reward military achievements or political service or to create bonds of loyalty. Inka tunics convey a strong sense of order and rigid organization in the layout of the designs and standardization in the choice of motifs. The grid arrangement on this example is very common, with squares containing eight-pointed stars alternating with stylized fish or birds. The tunic was probably woven by artists on the far southern coast of Peru, where the eight-pointed star was a frequent design motif.

AMICA ID: MMA_.33.149.100
AMICA Library Year: 2000
Media Metadata Rights: Copyright The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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