Chancay or Chimu Textile Fragment with Birds djed with subtle wrinkles visible across

with subtle wrinkles visible across the forehead

The resulting nkisi served to protect individuals and communities from illness

likely served a functional purpose in the presentation of food or beverages

Maternity figures such as this were created in honor of fertility and motherhood

Chancay or Chimu Textile Fragment with Birds djed with subtle wrinkles visible acrossPre Columbian Era, Chimu or Chancay Culture, c. 8001300 AD, North Coast Peru This fascinating textile fragment features a three square design depicting birds, crafted from dyed camelid wool (alpaca or llama) and possibly cotton warps. Created using the slit tapestry technique, the fabric exhibits delicate slits outlining the birds bodies, enhancing their visual definition. The piece retains a fringed edge, suggesting it may have originally been part