Mantle c. 100 - 200

This Mantle was made by the Paracas people of Peru from cotton and wool, likely centuries ago. The base fabric is a plain weave cotton, which would have been relatively straightforward to produce, while the embroidered figures in camelid wool required a wide range of colors and a high level of skill. The images are worked in stem stitch, a technique that creates a slightly raised, rope-like effect. Look closely, and you will see the incredible control the embroiderers had over their stitches, allowing them to create crisp outlines and subtle shading. There is nothing slapdash about this textile. Given the amount of work involved, the garment would have been extremely valuable, and its likely use as a burial shroud gives us some idea of its social significance. The Paracas were masters of fiber, and their textiles offer a glimpse into their complex world. The distinctions between art and craft simply dissolve away.