Skip to main content
Go to accessibility notice
Home / Art & Antiques / 2006 September Pre-Columbian and Native American Art: The Hendershott Collection Auction #643 / Lot #47253
    LOT #47253  | 
    Sold for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

    Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)

    Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
    • Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)
    • Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)
    • Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)
    • Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)
    • Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)
    • Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item)
    Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item) Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item) Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item) Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item) Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item) Textiles, Tocapu Tunic. Inca. A.D. 1450-1530. Camelid fibers, cotton. Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.. Woven in the ti... (Total: 1 Item Item) View More >
    Sold for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
    Make Offer: Make Offer to Owner
    $27,963 or more

    Owner's willingness to entertain and respond to offers has not yet been verified.

    View Recent Offers on Sold Items in this category
    Claim Item:
    View Condition Report
    Track Item Share this lot

    Sell One of These Currency Converter

    Description

    Tocapu Tunic
    Inca
    A.D. 1450-1530
    Camelid fibers, cotton
    Height 23 ¼ in. Width (at top) 26 ¼ in.

    Woven in the tightest, imperial quality tapestry weave, this tocapu tunic has on each side, as seen when worn, a major top field of identically-sized squares in over ten different designs. These are arranged in six horizontal bands of ten squares across each (for the entire tunic this totals one-hundred twenty squares). Below the main field, a single band the width of two square rows has a continuous design of connected hexagons containing and surrounded by rows of small linked triangles. A narrow dark brown plain band at bottom is bound with a multi-colored embroidered edging.
    Tocapu textiles were the prerogative of members of the Inca imperial clan and higher level elite individuals. The extensively varied patterns which appear in the squares are thought to have encoded information conveying rank and privileges of the individuals wearing these garments, as well as indication that they controlled a variety of ethnicities within the empire (Rebecca Stone-Miller. Art of the Andes from Chavín to Inca. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1995, p. 210). Certain of these patterns occur as the overall single motif of a tunic which would have been worn by a lower status individual.
    The visible side of the tunic as displayed has abrasions and stains concentrated at the neck slit and armhole areas, indicating that the tunic was worn in daily ceremonial life. The non-visible side has a larger number of abrasions and losses, as does the dark lower border all around the tunic.

    Provenance
    Arte Textil (Steve Berger), San Francisco, California



    Condition Report*: Condition report available upon request.
    *Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders. Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report. Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and shall not be liable for any damage/scratches to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or art that has slipped in frames. All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.

    Auction Info

    Auction Dates
    September, 2006
    29th Friday
    Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 5
    Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
    Page Views: 7,000

    Buyer's Premium per Lot:
    19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $9) per lot.

    Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
    This item cannot be shipped using standard methods. Please contact us for more information. Sales Tax information

    Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More

    Terms and Conditions  |  Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments |  Glossary of Terms

    Viewing at %
    Please enter a value between % and 100% and press your "Enter" key. Close
    Fit to screen View Full Size Brightness
    Sold for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
    Sold for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
    Track Item
    Coming soon:

    Currency
    Opens about 01/25/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 02/03/2021

    Photography
    Opens about 02/03/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 02/05/2021

    Historical
    Opens about 02/08/2021

    Sports Collectibles
    Opens about 02/05/2021

    World & Ancient Coins
    Opens about 01/31/2021

    Currency
    Opens about 02/01/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 02/10/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 02/11/2021

    Jewelry & Timepieces
    Opens about 02/19/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 02/08/2021

    Photography
    Opens about 02/17/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 02/18/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 02/18/2021

    Fine & Rare Wine
    Opens about 02/19/2021

    Western & Texas Art
    Opens about 02/19/2021

    Comics & Comic Art
    Opens about 02/19/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 02/12/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 02/23/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 02/26/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 02/24/2021

    Nature & Science
    Opens about 02/26/2021

    World & Ancient Coins
    Opens about 02/21/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 02/15/2021

    Luxury Real Estate
    Opens about 01/22/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 03/03/2021

    World & Ancient Coins
    Opens about 03/01/2021

    Jewelry & Timepieces
    Opens about 03/11/2021

    Comics & Comic Art
    Opens about 02/25/2021

    Movie Posters
    Opens about 03/05/2021

    Comics & Comic Art
    Opens about 03/08/2021

    Heritage membership

    Join Now - It's Free

    VIEW BENEFITS
    1. Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
    2. Bid online
    3. Free Collector newsletter
    4. Want List with instant e-mail notifications
    5. Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
      winnings 
    Consign now
    • Cash Advances
    • More Bidders
    • Trusted Experts
    • Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
    Only 42 days left to consign to the 2021 May 13 Modern & Contemporary Art Signature Auction - Dallas!

    Learn about consigning with us

    A few months before the Auction we received a beautifully printed Auction Brochure that showed the painting to its best advantage.
    Shauna Y.,
    Dallas, TX
    View More Testimonials

    HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)

    Video tutorial

    Getting the most out of search