Stylized Portrait Head for Funerary Array. Huari (possibly). A.D. 500 - 1000. Gold, silver, cotton and camelid yarns, feathe... (Total: 1 Item Item)

Description

Stylized Portrait Head for Funerary Array
Huari (possibly)
A.D. 500 - 1000
Gold, silver, cotton and camelid yarns, feathers, gourd
Height 19 1/2 in. Width 8 in. Depth 10 1/2 in.

This is an example of a group of similar such elaborately constructed portrait heads for funerary bundles. All combine segments of feathers on cloth backings, gold and silver, and a variety of woven and plain textiles. The resulting effect is colorfully dramatic.
The face is in orange-red macaw feathers overlaid by a silver-gilt nose in high relief, with flat eye and mouth panels and "tear" streamers flowing from the eyes to the edge of the chin, all in silver-gilt. The eyes are outlined in overlaid black feathers, and there are black feather pupils in red-painted areas representing the whites of the eyes. A horizontal red feather band separates upper and lower lips, behind which are six vertical black sewn bands with some remains of black feathers. A band of alternating blue and red feathers attached to cloth binds the edge of the face, with two silver cutwork circlets at the proper right side. The face is topped by a woven textile band into which hair has been threaded. Over this is laid a tapestry-weave band tied at the back of the head.
The headdress is based on a gourd core around which is a red fabric roll (possibly modern) over which is bound a varicolored feather-on-fiber band. Ten circumference holes have been punctured around a central hole in the gourd. In these a central and seven circumference orange-red macaw tail feathers remain, all topped by tufts of blue and black feathers laid into salmon-colored feathers. Each of these vertical assemblages had two silver disks added, some of which remain.
The present condition manifests expected feather loss and breakage. Some of the textiles are faded or stained. There is some stabilization and reattachment with modern whitethread.

Provenance
William Siegal Galleries, Santa Fe: 2004 catalogue, item 26
Bentley Dillard Collection, Scottsdale

Published
Siegal, William. Pre-Columbian Art. Santa Fe: William Siegal Galleries, 2004.





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