ID: 700000341 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700000341	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Eight-Pointed Star Tunic (unku (quechua); unknown Inca; 1460/1540; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, New York state, U...; 33.149.100)

Note: Inka tunics, called unku in the Quechua language of the Andes, are usually longer than they are wide. They were made from a single piece of cloth, the loom length being the width of the shirt-that is, they were woven sideways, with the warp in the short direction, and then folded over. The sides were sewn together, leaving holes for the arms at the top. The slot for the neck was woven with discontinuous warps. Fine tapestry tunics like the present example were items of great prestige and value during Inka times. Their ownership and use were strictly controlled by the state. They were commonly bestowed as royal gifts by the emperor to reward military achievements or political service or to create bonds of loyalty. Inka tunics convey a strong sense of order and rigid organization in the layout of the designs and standardization in the choice of motifs. The grid arrangement on this example is very common, with squares containing eight-pointed stars alternating with stylized fish or birds. The tunic was probably woven by artists on the far southern coast of Peru, where the eight-pointed star was a frequent design motif.

Titles:

Eight-Pointed Star Tunic (preferred,C,U,D,English-P,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

Term Not Found (AAT Candidate) (preferred)

.....

tunic [300209869]

..... (Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Costume (hierarchy name), costume (mode of fashion), clothing, main garments)

Classifications:

textiles (preferred)

Creation Date: 1460/1540

Creator Display:

unknown Inca [preferred,VP]

weaver unknown Inca (Inca cultural designation) [500125282]

Locations:

Current: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, New York state, United States) [500125157] Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 33.149.100

Credit Line: Gift of George D. Pratt, 1933

Other: Creation: Perú [1000056] South America (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Display Materials: Camelid hair, cotton

	camel hair (hair) [300011816]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, animal material, keratinous material, <hair and hair components as materials>, hair (material), <hair by composition or origin>)

	cotton (textile) [300014067]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by form>, <materials by physical form>, <fiber and fiber by product>, <fiber by product>, textile materials, <textile materials by composition or origin>)

Dimensions: Overall: 75.57 x 93.98 cm (29 3/4 x 37 in.)

Cultures:

Inca (preferred)

General Subject:

apparel (preferred,isness)

Specific Subjects:

	star (motif) [300009811]
	.....(Physical Attributes Facet, Design Elements (hierarchy name), design elements (attributes), motifs, natural element motifs) (AAT)

Provenance: George D. Pratt, New York, until 1933

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Eight-Pointed Star Tunic	........ [VP]
	........ Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-) accessed 21 May 2012

Subject: ....... [VP]

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-)