The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Peruvian Featherworks: Art of the Precolumbian Era

Search for a Met publication (from 1964)

_____
______
_______

Publication type

Thematic category

Collection / Department

Format

MetPublications

– About MetPublications

– Recently published titles

– NOW: Celebrating Arms and Armor publications

– Favorite Met titles

– Notable exhibition catalogues

– Notable collection catalogues

– Titles with full-text online

– Online publications

– All available titles

– Related posts in Now at the Met

Peruvian Featherworks: Art of the Precolumbian Era

King, Heidi, with essays by Mercedes Delgado, Mary Frame, Christine Giuntini, Johan Reinhard, Ann Pollard Rowe, and Santiago Uceda (2012)

This title is in print.

Description

Of universal appeal and unique beauty, feathers have for thousands of years been used by people in all parts of the world to adorn themselves and to animate their environment. Among traditional societies, feathers and objects embellished with feathers also have great cultural value and are imbued with spiritual energy and supernatural force. The feather arts of ancient Peru have been little investigated.

This publication summarizes what is currently known—on the basis of iconography, technical data, and the archaeological record—about this exquisite and unusual art form. The first essay surveys significant discoveries by archaeologists and reviews the evidence of featherworking in most of the known major Andean traditions: Paracas, ca. 600–100 bce; Nasca, ca. 100 bce–700 ce; Moche, ca. 100–800; Wari, ca. 600–1000; Sicán, Chancay, Chimú, ca. 1000–1470; and Inca, 1430–1534. Five essays by noted archaeologists and textile specialists explore important documented finds. These include rare discoveries such as male and female figurines wearing miniature feather headdresses, discovered on the summit of Mount Llullaillaco, the world's highest archaeological site; and a woman shaman inside an enormous bird-shaped effigy wrapped in a brilliantly colored feather shroud, found in the Inca Valley on Peru's South Coast. An essay on featherworking techniques and conservation further elucidates the subject. The plate section features nearly seventy examples of the feather arts predominantly from important museum collections—garments, headdresses, ornaments, and ritual objects—some ravishing, others charming and witty, many previously unpublished.

Table of contents

Director's Foreword
Thomas P. Campbell

Acknowledgments

Introduction
Heidi King

Feather Arts in Ancient Peru
Heidi King

Early Featherwork from Ocucaje
Ann Pollard Rowe

The Feathered Dresses of Cahuachi
Mary Frame

A Woman's Feathered Cloth from Cerrillos
Mercedes Delgado

Chimú Feathered Offerings from the Huaca de la Luna
Santiago Uceda and Heidi King

Sacred Featherwork of the Inca
Johan Reinhard

Techniques and Conservation of Peruvian Feather Mosaics
Christine Giuntini

Plates
Heidi King

Notes
Museum Collections with Significant Holdings in Featherworks Consulted for This Publication
Bibliography of Works Cited
Index
Photograph Credits

About the authors

Heidi King is Senior Research Associate in the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Mercedes Delgado is an archaeologist and Director of the Proyecto Archaeológico Cerrillos, Ica, Peru.

Mary Frame is an independent scholar specializing in Andean textiles.

Christine Giuntini is Conservator in the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

John Reinhard is Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society.

Ann Pollard Rowe is Research Associate of Western Hemisphere Textiles at The Textile Museum, Washington D.C.

Santiago Uceda is Director of the Proyecto Huaca de la Luna and Professor at the Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Peru.

Press reviews

Guardian UK, The Birdbooker Report

"Peruvian Featherworks, a magnificently illustrated publication, is the first in-depth and authoritative review of featherworking traditions in Ancient Peru. Written by seven international experts in the textile arts and archaeology, the texts include a discussion of important recent discoveries, considerations of iconography, and basic technical characteristics of featherworks. Nearly seventy outstanding pieces are discussed, as well as evidence of feather mosaic on textiles and other media in most major Andean cultures, from the Paracas (about 600–100 B.C.) through the Inca (1470–1534)."

Tags

Authors

Keywords

Art of the Americas

Print Titles

Benson, Elizabeth P. "A Moche 'Spatula'." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 18 (1983). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983.

Butterwick, Kristi. Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico, The Andrall E. Pearson Family Collection. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.

Coe, Ralph T., with Eugene Victor Thaw, J. C. H. King, and Judith Ostrowitz. The Responsive Eye: Ralph T. Coe and the Collecting of American Indian Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.

Dockstader, Frederick J. Masterworks from the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973.

Easby, Dudley T. "A Man of the People." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 21, no. 4 (December, 1962). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1962.

Easby, Dudley T., Jr. "Peruvian Silver: 1532–1900." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 26, no. 7 (March, 1968). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1968.

Easby, Dudley T. "The Colombian El Dorado." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 12, no. 7 (March, 1954). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1954.

Easby, Elizabeth Kennedy. "Before Cortés: Sculpture of Middle America." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 29, no. 3 (November, 1970). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1970.

Easby, Elizabeth Kennedy, and John F. Scott. Before Cortés: Sculpture of Middle America. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1971.

Falchetti de Sáenz, Ana María. The Darién Gold Pendants of Ancient Colombia and the IsthmusMetropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 43 (2008). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008.

Goldwater, Robert. "Art of Oceania, Africa, and the Americas." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 27, no. 9 (May, 1969). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1969.

Goldwater, Robert, Douglas Newton, Julie Jones, and Tamara Northern. Art of Oceania, Africa, and the Americas from The Museum of Primitive Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1969.

Hecht, Johanna. "New Identities for Some old Hispanic Silver." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 29 (1994). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994.

Howe, Ellen G. "Color and Resin on Andean Qeros." in Met Objectives: Treatment and Research Notes Vol. 3, No. 1. (Fall 2001). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2001.

Howe, Ellen G. "Fon Silver Jewelry of the Twentieth Century." Met Objectives: Treatment and Research Notes Vol. 1, No. 2. (Spring 2000). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000.

Jones, Julie. "Gold of the Americas." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 59, no. 4 (Spring, 2002). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002.

Jones, Julie, ed. The Art of Precolumbian Gold: The Jan Mitchell Collection. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985.

Jones, Julie, ed., with Juan Vincente Guerrero M., Mark Miller Graham, Michael J. Snarskis, and Zulay Soto Méndez. Jade in Ancient Costa Rica. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1998.

Mathews, Zena Pearlstone. Color and Shape in American Indian Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1983.

Mathews, Zena Pearlstone. Symbol and Substance in American Indian Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1984.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, introductions by Douglas Newton, Julie Jones, and Kate Ezra. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Vol. 12, The Pacific Islands, Africa, and the Americas. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1989.

Milleker, Elizabeth J., Christopher Lightfoot, Melanie Holcomb, Marsha Hill, Jean Evans, Joan Aruz, Denise Patry Leidy, and Julie Jones. The Year One: Art of the Ancient World East and West. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000.

Moskowitz, Anita Fiderer. "Beer Barrel of the Amazon." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 29, no. 9 (May, 1971). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1971.

Museo del Barrio, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Art Heritage of Puerto Rico: Pre-Columbian to Present. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1974.

Navarro, José Gabriel. "Ecuadorian Sculpture." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 3, no. 9 (May, 1945). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1945.

Newton, Douglas. "The Art of Africa, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas: A New Perspective." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 39, no. 2 (Fall, 1981). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1981.

Paz, Octavio. Mexico: Splendors of Thirty Centuries. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1990.

Phillips, John Goldsmith. "Peruvian Textiles: A Recent Purchase." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 19, no. 4 (December, 1960). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1960.

Phipps, Elena. "Embroidered Coverlet (Cocha),"in Peck, Amelia, American Quilts and Coverlets in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and MQ Publications, pp. 202–203, cat. 87. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2007.

Phipps, Elena. "Exhibition Preview: Colonial Andes," Hali: The international journal of Oriental carpets and textiles (September, 2004), pp. 32–33. n/a: n/a, 2004.

Phipps, Elena, Johanna Hecht, and Cristina Esteras Martín, with contributions by Thomas B. F. Cummins, Sabine MacCormack, Frank Salomon, and Luisa Elena Alcalá. The Colonial Andes: Tapestries and Silverwork, 1530–1830. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.

Schorsch, Deborah. "Silver-and-Gold Moche Artifacts from Loma Negra, Peru." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 33 (1998). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1998.

Wardwell, Allen, ed., with Janet Catherine Berlo, Bruce Bernstein, T. J. Brasser, N. Scott Momaday, Allen Wardwell, and W. Richard West. Native Paths: American Indian Art from the Collection of Charles and Valerie Diker. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1999.

Online Titles

Bernier, Hélène. "Birds of the Andes." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Bernier, Hélène. "Dualism in Andean Art." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Bernier, Hélène. "Moche Decorated Ceramics." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Bernier, Hélène. "Music in the Ancient Andes." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

"Blackwater Draw (ca. 9500–3000 B.C.)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Ancient American Jade." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Great Serpent Mound." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Hopewell (1–400 A.D.)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Indian Knoll (3000–2000 B.C.)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Jade in Costa Rica." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Jade in Mesoamerica." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "La Venta." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "La Venta: Sacred Architecture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "La Venta: Stone Sculpture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Monte Albán." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Monte Albán: Sacred Architecture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Monte Albán: Stone Sculpture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Poverty Point (2000–1000 B.C.)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Ciudadela." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Mural Painting." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Tikal." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Tikal: Sacred Architecture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Tikal: Stone Sculpture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Valdivia Figurines." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

"Fell's Cave (9000–8000 B.C.)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "Andean Textiles." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "Arts of the Mission Schools in Mexico." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "Arts of the Spanish Americas, 1550–1850." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "Colonial Kero Cups." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "Polychrome Sculpture in Spanish America." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "Talavera de Puebla." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Hecht, Johanna. "The Manila Galleon Trade (1565–1815)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Jones, Julie. "Gold of the Indies." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

King, Heidi. "Aztec Stone Sculpture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

King, Heidi. "Tenochtitlan." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

King, Heidi. "Tenochtitlan: Templo Mayor." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Slovak, Nicole. "Cerro Sechin." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Slovak, Nicole. "Cerro Sechin: Stone Sculpture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Slovak, Nicole. "Real Alto." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Suing, Michael. "Great Plains Indians Musical Instruments." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Watts, Edith. "Couples in Art." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Titles by author (5)

Christine Giuntini

Print Titles

LaGamma, Alisa, and Christine Giuntini. The Essential Art of African Textiles: Design Without End. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008.

Heidi King

Print Titles

Jones, Julie. "Gold of the Americas." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 59, no. 4 (Spring, 2002). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002.

Online Titles

King, Heidi. "Aztec Stone Sculpture." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

King, Heidi. "Tenochtitlan." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

King, Heidi. "Tenochtitlan: Templo Mayor." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.