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Nasca Mantle with Knitted Hummingbird Borders

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Nasca Mantle with Knitted Hummingbird Borders
<B>Mantle with Knitted Hummingbird Borders</B></I><BR>Nasca (Early)<BR>300-100 B.C.<BR>Camelid fibers<BR>Length 55 in. Width 25 in.<BR><BR>The complex knitted border indicates that this mantle comes from the period of transition from Paracas to Nasca cultures on Peru's south coast. The brilliant cochineal red plain weave center portion is in remarkably good condition for its great age, with only one small damage spot. Although the knitted borders along the longer sides initially appear similar, they actually differ. One is comprised of a row of fifty-eight outward-facing hummingbirds knitted from eight or more variously colored fibers. The other band is comprised of thirty-eight outward-facing and equally colorful hummingbirds alternating with at least three varieties of plants outside the connecting band which runs along the wing position of the hummingbirds. The condition is quite good, with a few missing or abraded parts of the knitted borders.<BR><BR>Provenance<BR>Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco: sale 7437E, 9 June 2003, lot 5125, pp. 32-33<BR><BR>