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Paracas

Tunic

200/1 B.C.
Wool (camelid), simple looping; applied wool (camelid) braided neck edging; and unspun wool fringe
76.8 × 74.4 cm (30.2 × 29.3 in)

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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 tunic is identifiable through the slit at the center to accommodate the wearer’s head and neck. The geometric design of interlaced stepped diagonal lines suggests the twisting together of threads to make yarn, a fitting motif for a textile. Similar motifs appear on ceramic vessels made by the Paracas; the use of the same twisted-thread design across different media demonstrates a consistent visual language and attests to the primacy of textiles as a means of aesthetic expression for the Paracas.

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