The Paracas Textile

 The Paracas Textile

Lois Martin, "The Paracas Textile," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed November 9, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/the-paracas-textile/.

https://smarthistory.org/the-paracas-textile/

Detail of border figures, Nasca, Mantle ("The Paracas Textile"), 100-300 C.E., cotton, camelid fiber, 58-1/4 x 24-1/2 inches / 148 x 62.2 cm, found South Coast, Paracas, Peru (Brooklyn Museum)

This art piece is called the Paracas Textiles. The image above is only a small portion of the whole piece. The whole piece was a wrapping used for a burial in the Paracas Peninsula. Ancient cemeteries on the Paracas Peninsula wrapped the dead in many layers of clothing and cloths. These wrapped bodies were essentially "mummy bundles." The cloths varied based on wealth. For example, if you were rich, your mummy bundle would have hundreds of embroidered textiles, extravagant costumes, beautiful jewelry, and more. If you were less wealthy, your cloth might be more plain and less intricate. This wrapping specifically was one made for a wealthy person. As you can see, there are many bright and bold colors in the design such as reds, blues, greens, and yellows. This piece has lots and lots of small designs and details which make it so unique. The woven design on this specific section of the wrapping is very detailed. You can see lots of characters and animals. In the top left corner, you can see what appears to be a snake. The figure two over from the right side is wearing a yellow shirt and has blue limbs. This figure has a very elongated face, long white teeth, and blank eyes. The figure has a headpiece on as well. Many of the small characters on this wrapping are along the border, and they all have a unique sense of liveliness to them. The way this wrapping was created is very interesting. In the middle of the cloth, which is pictured below, has around 32 geometric faces of all different styles and colors. Each of the faces was created by a technique called "warp-wrapping," where colored fleece is woven through sections of the cotton wrap threads. They do this before they start weaving. The central cloth and the border both have different color palettes, which could possibly mean they were woven during different times. While the central cloth is created by warp-wrapping, the border is created using a different technique. This technique is called "crossed-looping," and it is when you envelop inner cotton cores of weaving or looping. The whole process of creating this wrapping is a timely process, and that is what makes it so impressive. 

Center detail, Nasca, Mantle ("The Paracas Textile"), 100-300 C.E., cotton, camelid fiber, 58-1/4 x 24-1/2 inches / 148 x 62.2 cm, found south coast, Paracas, Peru (Brooklyn Museum)

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