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

272
Motif from a Mantle or Tunic
Flying Bird (Parrot? Raptor?)
Chancay culture
Circa AD 1300
Camelid wool; embroidery
4½" x 7½"
It is likely that Chancay embroiderers had a specific species in mind for each of these
motifs—and that despite their stylistic similarities, an ancient audience might have
been able to differentiate the birds based on their silhouettes, beaks and tail feathers.
While such knowledge is not available to modern viewers, we can appreciate the
liveliness and character of these figures, which probably embellished cotton textiles of
various sorts.
Cultural distinctions are also difficult to establish, but the dimensional wrapped and
tufted cords enhancing the wings of the parrot-like birds in cat. 273 recall the textural
Chimú style.
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