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Radiance from the Rain Forest: Featherwork in Ancient Peru
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Crown
Chimú 13th–15th century
Cotton, reeds, leather, feathers; H. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm)
Private collection
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Headgear was an essential part of elite costume in ancient Peru and was made in many shapes, sizes, and materials. Several types of headdress from the time the Chimú ruled over most of the north coast have survived. As in other cultures, certain headdresses probably were worn for specific occasions. Tall cylindrical crowns in gold and silver with cutout designs are known from the Chimú. This rare example features cutout seated anthropomorphic figures and heads in leather covered with tiny iridescent blue feathers. The figures and heads in profile wear headdresses and are arranged as repeats in registers. Noteworthy is the sculptural quality the artist achieved on the figures and heads by molding the leather while keeping the surrounding framework flat.
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