1983.W.1928.a-b Leg ornaments or shin guards (Peru, Wari)

These woven cane objects appear to have served as a pair of leg ornaments or shin guards, likely for a male warrior or official. The canes are tightly woven together in a polychrome concentric diamond pattern. The undecorated posterior has a cotton plain-weave lining that is stuffed with camelid hair. The latter provided padding behind the protective or decorative cane frame. Remains of straps at the edges likely served as ties around the leg. The Huari (Wari) drew upon coastal cane and local practices to create objects, such as cane boxes and tubes, adorning them with dyed camelid fiber in simple to complex patterns.

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

Wari (Huari): AAT: 300017283

Wari (Huari): TGN: 1024536

Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056

textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063

textile materials: AAT: 300231565

camelidae (camelid) fiber: AAT: 300310434

cotton (fiber): AAT: 300183670

skin (collagenous material / small animal skins): AAT: 300011840

cane (plant material): AAT: 300011864

weaving: AAT: 300053642

warp: AAT: 300227930

weft: AAT: 300227934

weft wrapping (techniques): AAT: 300228560

plain weave (process): AAT: 300312167

tabby (process): AAT: 300312167

Middle Horizon Period: AAT: 300017300

leggings (main garments): AAT: 300046173

leg ornaments (leg coverings): DMA

schynbalds (shin guards/greaves/body armor for lower extremities): AAT: 300218729

legharnesses (body armor for lower extremities): AAT: 300201780

red (color): AAT: 300126225

blue (color): AAT: 300129361

yellow (color): AAT: 300127794

green (color): AAT: 300128438

brown (color): AAT: 300127490

white (color): AAT: 300129784

polychrome: AAT: 300252261

concentric: AAT: 300010274

diamonds (motifs): AAT:  300009791

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279

warrior: AAT: 300261945

straps (fasteners): AAT: 300049015

ties (fasteners): AAT: 300239307

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.

Apply to objects where number equals 1983.W.1928.A-B