Shamans, Supernaturals & Animal Spirits: Mythic Figures From the Ancient Andes

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Fragment from a Tunic or Sleeve
Winged Staff-Bearer
Moche-Wari culture, Huarmey Valley
AD 750-1000
Cotton, camelid wool; interlocking and slit tapestry weave
5" x 18½"
Marine symbolism and mythology shaped the visual
traditions of all coastal societies. Inevitably, it even
inflected "official" cult iconography introduced by Wari
imperialism, as seen in an imaginative interpretation that
envisions the anthropomorphic staff-bearer with a fish-shaped
head.
Two distinct modes are integrated in this finely woven panel,
which makes use of an especially beautiful combination of
colors, including an unusual green background.
The slit tapestry–woven openwork (a hallmark of Huarmey
design) is especially precise, puncturing interlocking red and
yellow stepped forms that suggest platforms or stairways. Each
terrace is embellished with a flying bird ferrying a trophy
head or other ornament. Although architectural facades were
commonly decorated with bird imagery, certain species had
more visceral and grisly connotations. Vultures and condors
were especially associated with the consumption of dead
bodies left on battlefields or put out after sacrificial rites.
These stylized background motifs, composed with small, linear
color blocks, strongly contrast with the scale and solidity of
the primary icon. This unusual staff-bearer not only displays
the essential insignia of the role (the supernatural headdress
and staff) but also wields a new armament in the form of the
traditional Andean woven slingshot, used for hunting and
combat.
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