Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund · The Cleveland Museum of Art
Image: public domain (CC0) · Museum record & image source ↗
Peru, North Coast, Chimú style, 1200–1460s · 1425–1500 (radiocarbon date, 92.3% probability)
Loincloth
Creator not recorded by the museum
- Date
- 1425–1500 (radiocarbon date, 92.3% probability)
- Medium
- cotton; plain weave, brocaded and complex alternating gauze with 5 shots of plain weave between gauze shots
- Dimensions
- Overall: 151.1 x 57.2 cm (59 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.); Mounted: 167.6 x 71.1 cm (66 x 28 in.)
- Country / context
- Peru
- Movement / tradition
- Andean arts
- Collection
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Pathway
- Andean arts ↗
FROM THE MUSEUM
Loincloths were basic men’s wear in ancient Peru. But the extraordinary size of some examples—this one is about eight feet long, unfolded—makes it difficult to know how they were worn, except that they were tied around the waist with the decorated panels hanging at the front and back of the body. The appearance may have been that of a billowing skirt.
Collection text · The Cleveland Museum of Art · CC0A MOMENT TO LOOK
Start with what you can see: shapes, surface, colour and scale. How might the listed materials affect the way this object was made and experienced?
Looking prompt · an invitation to observe, not a historical interpretation.
