Existing comment:
Nazca style (Peru)
Tabard, AD400-700
Perhaps considered the most precious luxury item by ancient Americans, this masterpiece of Andean featherwork represents one of only three Nazca tabards known to exist. The name tabard applies to this garment because it was designed to hang straight down from the bearer's shoulders and was not tied or sewn a the sides, which allowed the feathers to hang freely and catch the light.
The feathers on this tabard come from tropical Amazonian birds but the exact species of each feather is yet to be determined. Based on other known examples of Nazca and Wari featherworks, however, the blue and yellow feathers are probably from the macaw and the coral-colored feathers from the flamingo.
The imagery on the tabard is not exactly known, but there appears to be depicted a six-legged supernatural creature with feline fangs and claws on the front of the garment. The other forms depicted are most likely marine creatures, resembling sea animals also seen on Nazca ceramics. |