peru, probably south coast, huari style
The classic Huari (Wari) tunic is made by seaming together two long, rect‑
Tunic with profile heads and stepped frets
the center. The high quality of the tunics suggests that men of elite status
angular panels of tapestry‑woven cloth, leaving an opening for the head in wore them on special occasions, yet many show signs of wear consistent
c. ad 650–800
with everyday use. The tunics functioned ultimately as burial goods, some‑
Cotton and camelid fiber
times as the outer covering for mummy bundles. The classic design scheme
40N × 40N in. ( 102.2 × 102.2 cm) The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., in honor of Carol Robbins’ 40th anniversary with the Dallas Museum of Art, 2004.55.McD
of this exceptionally fine tunic pairs a stylized profile head with a stepped fret. Between red vertical bands, white lines outline the design blocks, which are divided into two triangular sections. One features the profile head, with the mouth represented by a white N and the eye by a pendant tear. The other triangle contains a stepped fret or spiral. This basic design block is repeated throughout the textile, but with inversions, reversals, and color substitutions that add a pleasing variety and complexity.
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ancient and native american
3121-02 DMA handbook Ancient [RCP 10-7].indd 28
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