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

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Band from a Tunic?
Warrior with Tumi Headdress
Unidentified North Coast style, Lambayeque? Pacatnamu?
AD 750-1100
Cotton, camelid wool; interlocking tapestry weave
4½" x 3"
Despite a common repertoire of artistic themes and figure
types, a range of distinct textile styles are associated with
the north-central coast cultures that were part of the Moche
sphere. These distinctions indicate a variety of place origins
within this multivalley region, as well as varying degrees of
influence from—or familiarity with—either Moche or Wari
models. Many textiles, however, cannot be properly attributed.
This squat, blocky, stylized figure selects from both sources,
combining the tumi-blade head insignia of the Moche warrior
with the short staff and pose of the Wari icon. An illegible
black-and-white element in his headdress may allude to
the Wari wing (if so, it is incongruously placed). But it also
resembles a plumed mythical bird worn as a head adornment
by Moche personages.
Although the figure is devoid of much detail, the constructivist
approach to its composition, using an assortment of blocky,
outlined geometric shapes, is uncommon.
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