Pre-Columbian - Ancient Textiles for Sale

Like the ancient Egyptians and the Chinese, pre-Columbian peoples interred their dead with furnishings for the afterlife. In coastal Peru's dry climate, ancient textiles have survived in remarkable numbers, emerging from their long darkness with astonishing freshness of color. Weaving in Peru goes back to about 2000 B.C. and displays considerable sophistication and technical expertise.

Chancay Style Ancient Textile Doll Manufactured in the last 50 years, but using guaranteed ancient Peruvian textiles from the Chancay culture. Female form, composed of ancient textiles dating between 1100- $125.00

Nazca Wool and Feather Cap Fine early textile hat from the Nazca culture of southern Peru, ca 500 A.D. Tightly woven cap of camelid fibers in wave and triangle pattern, decorated on top with bright... $1,595.00

Stunning Proto-Nazca Textile Frog An incredible and very early textile weaving from southern Peru! Ca 300 BC - Proto-Nazca - and woven in camelid wool in the form of an exotically colored frog with central... $3,695.00

Long Moche Textile Sash Fabulous example of early textile workmanship! Rare and almost perfect textile sash from the Moche culture of northern Peru, ca. 200 to 600 A.D. Woven in shades of... $2,995.00

Pre-Columbian Textile Bag - North Coast Fine and very attractive cloth "coca" bag from north-coastal Peru, Ca 1200 to 1400 AD. Cotton pouch in white background with brown vertical stripes, woven woolen... $595.00

Cotton was the most common fiber used for weaving cloth, although in the Central Andean Area llama, alpaca, and vicuña wool was also used. These materials were often colored with mineral and vegetable dyes. Besides woven patterns and images, textiles designs were achieved through painting, stamping, embroidering, and appliqué. In Post-Classic Mesoamerica and Peru, fabric was also made of feathers. Catlike creatures, such as jaguars, shamanic animals of ancient mythological lineage, were a frequently used motif in pre-Columbian textiles.