Textiles as a way of communication and connection
Through mystical animals and geometrical elements, Pre-Columbian textiles weave part of the history and identity of Peruvian culture. In the past, these representations and symbolic designs expressed power, mythology, and religion in different civilizations' daily lives. This heritage is essential in understanding Peruvian culture; they tell the story of its people. Nowadays, the lack of preservation on the textile tradition has made it lose its value, not only historically –but even more importantly– its identity. Pre-Columbian civilization had high artistic abilities and a unique sense of communication that does not exist at this time. According to Benner’s article Ancient Peruvian Textiles "...their cleverness in adapting the most intricate design and overcoming the technical difficulties of the loom is something that has never been accomplished by any other people." (Benners)
Scope
This collection consists of 10 textiles from various Peruvian cultures from the Pre-Columbian era. Most of these textiles are for ceremonial use. Some of them are not complete and show fragments. These pieces are part of the collections of The Lima Art Museum and Larco Museum.
Online collection - The Lima Art Museum (MALI)
The museum launched its first virtual collection in 2014.
Online collection - Museo Larco
The Museo Larco was the first museum in Latin America to electronically catalogue its entire collection and make it accessible to the general public through an online catalogue. In 2001, with the support of Fundación Telefónica, the museum embarked upon the task of electronic cataloguing, and since 2007 the entire collection has been available to the public online. The Museo Larco collection was also the first Peruvian collection to be included in the country’s National Registry of Archaeological Property. (Larco Museum)
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