Fragment Possibly 1000 - 1476

Editor: So, here we have a textile fragment from the Chancay culture, likely created between 1000 and 1476. The patterns woven into it are quite striking. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: What immediately grabs me is the grid-like composition, the repetition of those motifs – the bird, the geometric flower, and the lattice pattern. It makes me think about the process, the labor involved in creating these intricate designs. How was this weaving made? What kind of loom? Were the dyes locally sourced? Editor: That's interesting; I was focused more on the imagery itself. How do these production questions inform the meaning? Curator: Well, think about the social context. Was this fragment part of a larger tapestry or garment? What role did textiles play in Chancay society? Who would have been involved in its production - was this domestic labor or specialized craft? Editor: It gives me a new perspective on this. Thinking about the actual labor helps connect it to a larger context, seeing the cloth as an everyday object as well as a beautiful thing. Curator: Exactly! The value isn't solely aesthetic; it's embedded in the making and the usage. The textile's materiality is inseparable from its cultural meaning. What was the relationship between production and consumption in this society? Were such pieces markers of social status or trade goods? Editor: It almost democratizes it. Shifting away from the idea of art as this precious, untouchable thing and emphasizing craft, labour, and utility. It helps me to see the indigenous Americas in a completely new light! Curator: And for me, this "fragment" points beyond itself. To an understanding of material culture of labour, power and meaning, all tied together.