Andean Four-Cornered Hats, Ancient Volumes

The Andean hats are fabric caps with square tops that are punctuated with a peak at each corner. These ancient works of art, many of which remain intact, attracted Arthur Bullowa's attention many years ago. Their remarkably well-preserved condition offers the opportunity to discuss the complexity of Andean thought as it is demonstrated by the textile medium, a medium of consummate importance to the ancient peoples of the Andes. The three-dimensionality of these hats distinguishes them from other Andean fabrics and invites the insight into Andean spatial concepts that Ms. Frame details here. The brightly decorated colored patterns worked with such care can in fact be read both linearly and volumetrically, an accomplishment that demands attention and respect.