1983.W.2170 / alt. T41299.20 Fragmentary khipu with subsidiary main, top, subsidiary, and tertiary cords (Inka)

Andean cultures did not have a recognizable writing system prior to the Spanish conquest in the early 1530s; however, they did utilize a system of recording through knotted cords, known as quipu (khipu; “knot” in Quechua). Quipu that date to the Late Horizon (1400-1532 CE) and early Spanish Colonial period (1400-1570 CE) vary in structure, from numeric records to “anomalous” types that possibly record more abstract concepts. Spanish chroniclers cite their use by specialists, known as quipucamayoc (khipucamayuq), for recording census, taxes, and stored goods such as dried maize and potatoes. Early forms of quipu were used during the Middle Horizon (600-1000 CE), under Huari (Wari) cultural influence.

This Inca-style quipu exhibits a numerical structure based on the Andean decimal system. The number of loops in a knot indicates the numerical value, while the placement of the knot along the vertical subsidiary cord references its place value (1s, 10s, 100s, 1000s, 10000s). Different fibers and knot directions were employed, perhaps as markers of particular information.

Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text, 2015.

Inka (Inca): AAT: 300017326

Inca horizon: AAT: 300017352

Inca Empire: TGN: 6002741

Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056

textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063

textile materials: AAT: 300231565

weaving: AAT: 300053642

knotting (textile construction processes and techniques): AAT: 300053635

tying: AAT: 300053026

cotton (fiber): AAT: 300183670

camelidae (camelid) fiber: AAT: 300310434

plant fibers: AAT: 300014031

indigo (colorant): AAT: 300013055

aniline dye (synthetic dye): AAT: 300013094

lac dye (colorant): AAT: 300013605

cochineal (colorant): AAT: 300013597

cochineal carmine (lake): AAT: 300311203

cochineal (color): AAT: 300311501

Late Horizon Period: AAT: 300017332

record-keeping works: AAT: 300026685

records (documents): AAT: 300026685

recording: AAT: 300077610

documentation (activity): AAT: 300054638

cord (fiber product): AAT: 300014247

knots: AAT: 300186759

knotwork: AAT: 300169858

ties (fasteners): AAT: 300239307

indigo (color): AAT: 300311066

brown (color): AAT: 300127490

red (color): AAT: 300126225

white (color): AAT: 300129784

Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]

1976-1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]

From 1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of John Wise [1], [2]

[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

 

XXXXX: UMO. [Caption] A drawing by Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala from his 1615 Chronicle shows two rows of stone store-houses (qolqas). The administrator seated on the right holds a quipu, the knotted cotton cords by which the Inca recorded numerical tallies using a decimal system. Source: Carol Robbins, “An Inca Tunic,” in Dallas Museum of Art, 100 Years, ed.  Dorothy M. Kosinski (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 2003), Pamphlet number 76. 

Apply to objects where number equals 1983.W.2170