Paracassamlingen

Vessel

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Pottery.

Cavernas, Paracas, Peru.

Vessel

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:26:51 +0000

Vessel shaped like a pumpkin.

Topará pottery found in graves in the Paracas Necropolis funerary complex.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis. Dated to c. 500 BC.

Stave

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:13:59 +0000

12 different figures are depicted, in rows of two. The bottom pair of figures cannot be seen, due to the stave being damaged. The more or less intact pairs of figures are, from top to bottom, as follows.

Uppermost pair: One figure is wearing a skirt. On its head it has a headpiece, hair pendants and a face mask from which a long tongue protrudes. In its hands it is holding a trophy head and a fan. It is bare-chested and appears to have visible ribs. The other figure is dressed in a tunic and leggings. It has a face mask, hair pendants and a necklace and is holding a knife and a trophy head. Its feet do not look human, since they have a toe pointing in the opposite direction to the other toes, like a thumb.

Second pair: One figure is wearing a tunic, loincloth and leggings, and perhaps a cape made of feathers. It is holding a knife and a trophy head. The other figure is wearing a skirt and is holding what may be a net bag. Ribs appear to be protruding from the upper part of its body. On its face it has a face mask

and headpiece, and its hair has been let down.

Third pair: One figure is wearing a tunic, skirt and leggings. It also has a face mask, hair pendants and headpiece. It is holding a trophy head to its mouth. The other figure has a tunic or poncho, a loincloth and leggings. On its head it is wearing a face mask and a semicircular headdress. It is holding a knife in one hand and an unidentified object in the other.

Fourth pair: One figure is wearing a skirt, a face mask and a headband. In one hand it is holding a short stave and in the other an unidentified object. The other figure has a tunic, skirt and leggings. On its head it has a headpiece, a face mask and hair pendants, and it has an article of jewellery round its neck. It is holding an unidentified object in one hand.

Fifth pair: This part of the stave is damaged, and neither of the figures is entirely visible. One figure can be seen to be wearing a poncho, skirt and leggings, as well as a face mask and bracelets. Two objects, possibly feathers, are visible at its forehead. The other figure is wearing a skirt and face mask and appears to have ribs protruding from the upper part of its body.

Description based on Paracas textiles Selected from the Museum’s Collections (Göteborg 1979) by Anne Paul.

Material and technique

Painting on leather, sewn round a wooden stave with cotton thread.

Dating and origin

Undated.

Headband with fingers

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:00:34 +0000

The pattern consists of large S-shapes overlapping. They have a feline-looking head at each end. At the ends of the band are four finger-like fringes. These are patterned with smaller S-shapes which are inverted in relation to the pattern of the band.

Material and technique

The main band is sewn with woollen yarn and without any supporting framework. There is no padding in the band itself, but there is in the “fingers” and “palm”. The embroidery is loop-stitched in linear style.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1 (c. 100 BC – 100 AD)

Plaited head band

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:49:35 +0000

Band plaited into a diagonal lozenge pattern.

This band is a combination of diagonally woven and plaited woollen yarn. Groups of eight different colours with 40 threads each are closely plaited into warp-faced repp. These groups are interspersed with yellow groups of threads, in threes. The yellow threads create a diagonal pattern when they divide up the other colours. All the threads are very tightly twisted, which gives a dense, compact quality.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 2 (c. 100 AD – 200 AD)

Sample band

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:41:50 +0000

This band has 14 different pattern units, each of them 50 cm long. It has a row of Lima beans, while the rest of the patterning consists of various geometric shapes.

Material and technique

Tapestry-woven with cotton and wool.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 2 (c. 100 AD – 200 AD)

Red plaited head band

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:22:09 +0000

This band is a combination of diagonally woven and plaited woollen yarn. The motif at the ends of the band is a bird with wings outstretched and two heads. There are also five tassels, like fingers, decorated with smaller figures.

Material and technique

Woollen yarn. The red threads are plaited in plain weave, the black ones in repp. Strands of hair are plaited in at 3-4 points. The bird and the motifs on the “fingers” are sewn in loop stitch.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Horizonte Temprano 10 (c. 100 BC – 0)

Headband with fingers

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:16:59 +0000

A two-headed bird and a similar, smaller figure inverted inside it. A feline is visible on the wings of the large figure. There are four tassels, like fingers, at one end of the band, with smaller versions of the bird on them. The other end of the band is missing.

Material and technique

The main band is sewn with woollen yarn and without any supporting framework. There are parrot feathers sewn onto the “fingers” with cotton yarn. There is no padding in the band itself, but there is in the “fingers”. The embroidery is loop-stitched in linear style (110 stitches round the circumference of the band).

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Horizonte Temprano 10 (c. 100 BC – 0)

Headband with fingers

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:02:43 +0000

The pattern consists of large Z-shapes overlapping. They have a feline-looking head at each end. Four finger-like “tassels” are attached to the ends of the band, patterned in smaller Z-shapes.

Material and technique

The main band is sewn with woollen yarn and without any supporting framework. Some strands of hair have also been sewn in, a few at the “fingers” and a few in the middle of the band. The band is torn because the dark mauve yarn has crumbled away. There is no padding in the band itself, but narrow woven band of cotton is visible in the “fingers” in a crack. The embroidery is loop-stitched in linear style.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1-1A (c. 100 BC – 100 AD)

Killer whale turban

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:57:14 +0000

Se motif description for mantle 1935.32.0187 in the same showcase. The figures all face in the same direction, but are alternately turned right and left. In the centre of the turban the same figure recurs in squares in a diagonal colour pattern.

Material and technique

Embroidered in woollen yarn on a plain-woven woollen fabric. The embroidery is in stem-stitch in colour-field style. Round the edges are points blanket-stitched over a support thread.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 2 (c. 100 AD – 200 AD)

Fish turban

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:50:27 +0000

A creature resembling a fish but with a human-looking arm. The figure is embroidered in rows on the border and in squares on the rest of the turban, which has motifs the same colour in diagonal rows. The turban matches the poncho item no. 1935.32.0182 in the same showcase.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven fabric. The embroidery is stem-stitch in linear style. The borders are woven in cotton and the poncho and intermediate fabric with woollen yarn. The turban consists of three pieces sewn together.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1B (c. 100 BC – 100 AD)

Fish poncho

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:45:56 +0000

A creature resembling a fish but with a human-looking arm. The figure is embroidered in rows on the border and in squares on the rest of the poncho, which has motifs the same colour in diagonal rows. The poncho matches the turban item no. 1935.32.0191 in the same showcase.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven fabric. The embroidery is stem-stitch in linear style. The borders are woven in cotton and the poncho itself with woollen yarn.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1B (c. 100 BC – 100 AD)

Black mantle figure with stave

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:42:30 +0000

An anthropomorphic figure, apparently wearing a tunic or poncho, a loincloth and anklets. The figure has a painted face. On its head it is wearing a headpiece and a round object. One hand holds a striped stave, the other a spear.

The figures on the mantle alternately face right and left, and some of them are inverted.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven woollen fabric. The mantle consists of two pieces sewn together. The embroidery is in stem-stitch in colour-field style.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1 (c. 100 BC – 100 AD)

Yellow mantle fragment

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:24:00 +0000

A quasi-human figure with a head which seems to be upside down, perhaps because it is turned backwards. The figure is wearing a tunic with sleeves, leggings, anklets, bracelets and hair pendants. Parts of the face are covered by a large whiskered mask. A headpiece is visible on the forehead. Two trophy bodies, seemingly with painted faces, are suspended from the head. The heads of the trophy bodies are also depicted upside down. The arms of the large figure are stretched upwards to one side of the body. One hand holds a small trophy head, while the other holds a larger head and two headpieces.

A large serpentine band emanates from the figure’s headpiece. It is covered by an unidentified object and on the end of it are the face and forelegs of a feline animal. There are two smaller twisted bands near the trophy bodies. A band issuing from the mouth of the large figure terminates in a feline motif. There are similar cats on the points along the edge of the border.

The three fragments with the same motif probably come from the same mantle as the border 1932.35.0198. The motif here looks “squashed”.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven cotton fabric. The embroidery is in colour-field style and sewn with very dense stem-stitch, using hard-twisted yarn, which partly explains why the ground weave has split. The fragments are embroidered in 18 different colours.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 2 (c. 100 AD – 200 AD)

Brown mantle fragment

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:02:59 +0000

This piece probably comes from the same mantle as 1935.32.0212 in the same showcase.

Motif description

A quasi-human figure with a head which seems to be upside down, perhaps because it is turned backwards. The face is apparently covered by a be-whiskered mask. Five serpentine bands issue from the chin, and two trophy bodies are suspended from the sides of the head. The figure has a necklace of mollusc shells and bracelets. In its hands it holds short staves, headpieces and an unidentified object. At the sides of the figure are four serpentine bands with something resembling flowers.

The figure is wearing a tunic, the lower part of which looks like a large face with eyes and nostrils. The face also appears to have a mouth with teeth from which four headpieces and the legs of the main figure protrude. The legs terminate in feet which do not look human, because they apparently have a “thumb”, i.e. a toe positioned contrary to the other toes.

Material and technique

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1B-2 (c. 100 BC – 200 AD)

Yellow Border

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:51:11 +0000

This border has one of the Paracas collection’s most highly detailed motifs. It probably comes from the same mantle as the fragments numbered 1935.32.0211.

Motif description

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven cotton fabric. The embroidery is in colour-field style and stem-stitched. The sewn points along the side are blanket-stitched over a support thread. The border is embroidered in 23 different colours.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 2 (c. 100 AD – 200 AD)

Border with fringes

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:41:09 +0000

An anthropomorphic figure with its head tilted backwards, causing it to look upside down. The figure is dressed in a tunic and leggings and has a headdress, hair pendants, bracelets and anklets. The feet are not anthropomorphic, because each has one toe pointing in the opposite direction to the others. A figure having both anthropomorphic and avian features emerges from the mouth. There are several serpentine bands emerging from the large figure.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven woollen fabric. The embroidery is in stem-stitch in colour-field style. The square for each pattern figure is tasselled.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1B-2 (c. 100 BC – 200 AD)

Bird border

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:36:10 +0000

A bird with its neck bent and one leg stretched up towards its beak. Each bird occupies a separate square and the birds are all turned in the same direction but with their heads alternately facing right and left. The squares have different combinations of colours, except for the three sewn onto one end of the border.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven cotton fabric. The border is in two pieces, joined together. Its embroidery is in stem-stitch in colour-field style.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1B-2 (c. 100 BC – 200 AD)

Border with fringe

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:30:46 +0000

An anthropomorphic figure dressed in tunic, leggings and anklets, with a feather headdress and a face mask. Serpentine bands emerge from the tunic and mouth. In its hand the figure holds an unidentified object. The feet are non-human, i.e. they each have a toe pointing in the opposite direction to the others.

All the figures have their heads pointing in the same direction, but are otherwise alternately turned to the right and left.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven cotton fabric. The embroidery is in stem-stitch in colour-field style.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 1B-2 (c. 100 BC – 200 AD)

Border with two figures together

josef — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:25:12 +0000

This border is unusual among Paracas textiles in having a motif of two figures facing each other. Otherwise anthropomorphic figures are usually depicted singly.

Motif description

Two figures are each holding one end of a headpiece. One figure is wearing a short tunic, feline headgear, a headpiece, hair pendants and a necklace. One hand is holding a fan. The other figure is dressed in a mantle, long skirt, hair pendants and mollusc-shell necklace and is holding a tuber in one hand. Serpentine bands emerge from both figures. Alternate pairs of figures are inverted.

Material and technique

Embroidered with woollen yarn on plain-woven cotton fabric. The border has a different ground weave from the points sewn along both sides. The mantle itself was probably made of the same fabric as the points. The border is cut off at both ends. The embroidery is in stem-stitch in colour-field style.

Dating and origin

Paracas Necropolis, Intermedio Temprano 2 (c. 100 AD – 200 AD)