Probably north or central coast, Peru
Border Fragment
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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
This fragment depicts a column of felines paired with their mirror images, along with smaller representations of abstracted fish or birds, framed by a vertical motif that recalls undulating waves. Peru is home to a variety of predatory felines, including the jaguar, puma and pampas cat, which were feared for their hunting skill and worshipped for their ties to the otherworldly powers of the nocturnal world. Rulers throughout the ancient Andean realm expressed their identities as warriors and protectors of their communities by taking on the attributes of the fearsome cats in their personal adornment.
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