Huari Textile Four Corner Pile Hat ca. 700 to 900 A.D. Item Number: 772199 $2,950.00 $695.00 SOLD

DescriptionVibrant! Ancient Huari Textile Four Corner Pile Hat from Peru's south coast, ca. 700 to 900 A.D. Woven squared cap composed of knotted camelid fibers overlaid with cut woolen pile in shades of blue, crimson, ochre/gold and brown. Plain woven top with knotted tufts at corner peaks. Woven with a velvety pile, similar to Oriental rugs. Patterned with figures having simple faces (more rare than geometric patterns). Hats like these appeared during the time when the southern coast was under the dominion of the Huari empire, which originated in the mountains of southern Peru. In ceramics of the period, high-status men are depicted wearing this style of hat while engaged in activities suggesting some kind of ceremony. This hat's foundation is made by knotting yarns, while the figural designs is formed by separate, supplementary yarns caught in each knot to form the velvet-like pile. Camelids, such as llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, live in the mountains, home of the Huari empire. 5-1/4"H (to tip of each pile) x 5-1/2"W (fairly square), all there with recent reinforcing to seamed areas. A truly important example...

ProvenanceEx-private Tuscon, AZ Collection.