Head Cloth

This fragment is part of a head cloth. Semi-sheer head cloths have been found folded and piled on the heads of central coast mummies. They are found in simple and elaborate burials (Tsunoyama). They are presumed to be women's head cloths (Rowe). A great variety of sheer cotton head cloths in diverse techniques have come from looted Chancay graves. This is a particularly figurative example of this kind of fabric.

The human figure in this stance appears frequently in central coast textiles.

Irregular, openwork piece of light orange cotton with designs of frontal human figures repeated in horizontal rows. In adjacent rows, the figures are in alternate alignment to allow closing spacing. The figures are shown with headdress and tunic with arms outspread. The background mesh is constructed on spaced, paired warps in a combination of weaving and knotting. The figures are embroidered in two thicknesses of cotton threads. Parts of one warp and weft are present.