Kaishi Paper Container (Tea-things) (Chancay-no-saru)

Dyed and woven fabrics produced in pre-Inca are characterized by extremely varied techniques and a wide range of artistic tastes for gorgeousness as well as sober elegance. Along with colorful expressions, various figures in the pre-Inca designs were realistic at the outset and, having been divided into many elements and then incorporated, eventually became stylized. Vigorous power of making up bold abstract patterns is revealed in those forms which are also abundant in human touches with a sense of humor. The Chancay culture, the last local civilization of pre-lncap, resumably flourished in the 11th-12th centuries in the basin of the River Chancay, abotu 80kilometers north of Lima, capital of Peru. The design here is a combination of stylized monkeys and geometric elements peculiar to the Chancay textiles. This piece of fabric is intrciately woven as a warppatterned brocade with an exotic pattern.