Exquisite Pre-Columbian Textile Art to be Offered at Auction!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Weaving was an art central to ancient Peruvian culture. Every known weaving technique was developed by these Pre-Columbian people. Among the rarest of these in surviving examples is warp ikat weaving.

Warp ikat weaving, in which strings running lengthwise on the loom-the warp-are dyed and grouped into bundles so that they will form a pattern when woven, is a technique that is found in many cultures, from South America to India to Indonesia to Japan, although the forms and designs can vary greatly from culture to culture. Some cultures believed that ikat designs were inherently magical, possibly due to the great amount of time and skill required to make one.

"Warp ikat textiles are rare among pre-conquest Peruvian examples," said Dr, Edmund P. Pillsbury, Ph.D., Managing Director of Fine and Decorative Arts for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "According to the pre-eminent textile conservator Nobuko Kajitani, the examples being offered in our upcoming auction most likely originated in the Lambayeque area relatively early in the period of Chim dominance."

"The ikat technique, as used here, has resulted in subtle, nuanced design and color harmonies," said Dr. Pillsbury. "The resulting shapes are more difficult to read, but in part can be seen as groupings of birds in various configurations. The larger-scaled intermittent bands both unify the design and create a repeated pulsation across the surface. Large-sized groups of like textiles served as temple hangings, probably in some cases in the huge outdoor courts where thousands of people were assembled."

Heritage Auction Galleries will offer the Three Temple Panels from a Wall Hanging Ensemble in their upcoming Signature Auction as part of the Pre-Columbian and Native American Art, to be held September 29, 2006 in New York City at 2 East 79th Street (at 5th Avenue). Previews of the lots will be held in Dallas (September 12 - 15) and New York (September 26 - 28).

Three Temple Panels from Wall Hanging Ensemble
Chim (Early)
A.D. 1000 - 1100
Cotton; warp ikat
(A) Height 118 3/8 in. Width 22 3/4 in.
(B) Height 115 in. Width 46 3/4 in.
(C) Height 105 in. Width 46 1/2 in.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of fine art, antiques, decorative arts, silver and art glass are invited to www.HA.com/FineArt and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Dr. Pillsbury at EPP@HA.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HA.com to order by email.