Miniature Dress
Unknown Artist
12th–13th century
Medium
Cotton, feathers
Dimensions
H. 9 3/4 x W. 10 in. (24.8 x 25.4cm)
Classification
Textiles-Featherwork
Culture
Ica
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Accession Number
1979.206.652
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Miniature Dress** from Ica culture of Peru's North Coast, dating to the 12th–13th century, showcases the mastery of pre-Columbianwork textiles. Crafted from cotton and vibrant feathers, it measures just 9 3/4 x 10 inches, suggesting it served as a ceremonial model, votive offering, or elite garment prototype rather than wearable attire. The Ica people's featherwork technique—meticulously attaching feathers to a cotton base—created shimmering, colorful mosaics that mimicked luxurious capes and tunics worn by nobility. Featherwork held profound cultural significance in ancient ...