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Una presentacin de

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino


Minera Escondida

Chim: Laberintos de un Traje Sagrado


Chim: Labyrinths of a Sacred Costume

noviembre de 2005-mayo de 2006

Patrocinan
Embajada del Per
Metro de Santiago, Chile

Organizan
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
Instituto Nacional de Cultura del Per

Han colaborado en esta exposicin


Departamento de Fsica, Facultad de Fsica,
Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile
Proyecto Arqueolgico Huacas del Sol
y de la Luna, Per

capitulo0.indd 1 10/11/05 12:19:08


Una presentacin de
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
Minera Escondida

Chim: Laberintos de un Traje Sagrado


Chim: Labyrinths of a Sacred Costume

noviembre de 2005-mayo de 2006

Patrocinan
Embajada del Per
Ley de Donaciones Culturales
Metro de Santiago, Chile

Organizan
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
Instituto Nacional de Cultura del Per

Han colaborado en esta exposicin


Departamento de Fsica, Facultad de Fsica,
Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile
Proyecto Arqueolgico Huacas del Sol
y de la Luna, Per

capitulo0.indd 1 10/11/05 12:19:19


CHIM
Laberintos
de un Traje
Sagrado
Labyrinths
of a Sacred Costume

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Para la Ilustre Municipalidad de Santiago
y la Fundacin Familia Larran Echenique
es muy grato presentar la exposicin
Chim: Laberintos de un Traje Sagrado,
que presenta al pblico una extraordinaria
pieza de arte precolombino y los esfuerzos
por estudiarla y exhibirla.

En esta tarea colaboraron de manera importante


el Instituto Nacional de Cultura del Per
y el Proyecto Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
(Trujillo, Per).

Agradecemos a Minera Escondida que con su


generosa colaboracin hizo posible la realizacin
de esta iniciativa cultural.

Ral Alcano Lihn


Alcalde
Ilustre Municipalidad de Santiago

Juan de Dios Vial Correa


Presidente
Fundacin Familia Larran Echenique

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The Value of an Invaluable Object El valor de un objeto invaluable

The Andes was one of five or six regions Los Andes fue una de las cinco o seis
in the world where ancient agricultural regiones del mundo donde las antiguas
societies preceded the formation of sociedades de agricultores dieron paso a
powerful States that controlled large la formacin de Estados poderosos que
territories and important populations. controlaban grandes territorios y un
These societies produced impressive nmero importante de personas. Estas
architectural structures, created complex sociedades produjeron imponentes obras
hydraulic systems to irrigate their fields, arquitectnicas, elaboraron complejos
and encouraged the development of sistemas hidrulicos para irrigar sus campos
an artisan class capable of producing e impulsaron el desarrollo de una clase de
magnificent objects that augmented artesanos capaces de producir magnficos
the prestige of the ruling classes. These objetos que incrementaban el prestigio de
craftsmen reached a high level of las clases gobernantes. Estos especialistas
proficiency in the Chim state, on the alcanzaron un altsimo nivel en el estado
northern coast of Per. When this zone Chim, en la costa norte del Per, al punto
was incorporated into Tawantinsuyu, the que cuando esta zona fue incorporada
Inka Empire, the administrators in Cuzco al Tawantinsuyu, el imperio Inka, los
placed all of the Chim artisans at the gobernantes de Cuzco pusieron a todos los
States service. artesanos Chim directamente a su servicio.
One of the principal specialties of the Una de las grandes especialidades de los
Chim was textiles, whose excellence was Chim fueron los textiles, cuya excelencia
renowned in the pre-Columbian world. By alcanz los niveles ms altos en el mundo
combining different materials, techniques precolombino. Combinando distintos
and iconographies, these artists produced materiales, tcnicas e iconografas, estos
magnificent weavings that were destined artistas producan magnficas telas que
to dress the aristocracy and be used as estaban destinadas a vestir a la aristocracia
valuable presents that dignitaries would y a ser utilizadas como valorados presentes
give to the nobility and their allies. que los dignatarios solan entregar a la
nobleza y a sus aliados.
Most of these pieces of Chim textile
art ended up as part of the funerary La mayor parte de estas piezas de arte textil
paraphernalia of important personages. Chim terminaban siendo parte del ajuar
They were either part of his wardrobe funerario de personajes importantes, ya
or an element in the mummy bundle in fuera porque eran parte de su vestimenta
which the body was wrapped. This practice o un componente del complejo fardo
permitted a great variety of works to be mortuorio en que eran envueltos los
conserved until today, although few are cuerpos. Esta prctica permiti que una
of the excellence and complexity of the gran variedad de obras se conservaran
ceremonial costume that is the motive of hasta el presente, aunque pocas son de
the exposition chronicled in this catalog. la excelencia y complejidad del atuendo
ceremonial que es motivo de la exposicin
representada en este catlogo.

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The custome was designed to be a unique Este traje fue creado como una prenda
garment for its wearer, as well as the rest altamente significativa para su usuario y
of Chim society. Today, 700 years later, para el resto de la sociedad Chim, valor
our intention is to demonstrate all that the que pretendemos rescatar hoy, unos 700
costume can teach us about its creators and aos despus, mostrando cunto podemos
users, and about the era in which they lived aprender a travs de l sobre sus creadores
and died. Our objective has required us to y usuarios, as como del tiempo en que
confront a series of challenges imposed by vivieron y murieron. Este objetivo requiere
the need to conserve and exhibit this delicate enfrentar una serie de desafos impuestos
textile, such as how to illuminate it without por la necesidad de exponer y conservar
damaging it and how to protect it from este delicado textil, tales como la forma
the polluted atmosphere of the city. These de iluminarlo sin daarlo o aislarlo del
precautions guarantee that, in spite of the ambiente polucionado de la ciudad. Dichos
passage of time, this work of art continues to cuidados ratifican que pese al paso del
be an object of great significance, in the past tiempo, esta obra de arte continua siendo
for the Chim and today for us. un objeto de gran significado, en el pasado
para los Chim y hoy para nosotros.
At the same time, this costume has become
a paradigm for many important activities at A la vez, este traje se ha constituido en
our Museum. Its restoration, the conditions todo un paradigma para muchas de las
in which it has then been conserved, its actividades ms importantes de nuestro
installation, and the exhibitions in which museo. Su restauracin, las condiciones en
it has been included, as well as the number que se ha conservado, los montajes y las
of research projects it has motivated, exhibiciones en las que se le ha incluido, as
has influenced, in a certain way, how we como las numerosas investigaciones que ha
have come to base our work methods on motivado, han influido, de alguna manera,
teamwork. The process has set precedents en la forma de abordar el trabajo en equipo
for the treatment of other pieces in our y han sentado precedentes en cuanto al
collection. tratamiento de otras piezas en nuestra
coleccin.
Acknowledgements
An important part of the contents of this Reconocimientos
catalog, as well as the exhibition to which Una parte importante del contenido de este
it refers, are based on studies by Paulina catalogo, as como de la exposicin a que se
Brugnoli B., Soledad Hoces de la Guardia refiere, se basa en el los estudios de Paulina
Ch., Paulina Jlvez H., and Tania Gmez Brugnoli B., Soledad Hoces de la Guardia
A., published in the book Fertilidad para el Ch., Paulina Jelvez H. y Tania Gmez A,
desierto. Un traje ceremonial Chim. Costa materializados en el libro Fertilidad para el
norte de los Andes Central, siglos xii-xv. desierto. Un traje ceremonial Chim. Costa
(1997, Editorial Lom). norte de los Andes Centrales, siglos xii-xv
(1997, Editorial Lom).

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Contenido

10 El Reino del Chimor


The Kingdom of Chimor

20 El Traje Ceremonial en el Contexto de la Textilera Chim


The Ceremonial Costume in the Context of Chim Textile Traditions

40 Un Jardn en el Desierto: La Metfora


A Garden in the Desert: A Metaphor

62 Desafos Expositivos
Challenges in Preparing the Exhibition

89 Referencias
References

capi tulo0.indd 9 11/3/05 4:21:10 PM


The Kingdom El Reino
of Chimor del Chimor

Who were the Chim? Quines fueron los Chim?


The Chim civilization, known as the Kingdom La cultura Chim o Reino del Chimor representa
of Chimor, represented the maximum in cultural el clmax del desarrollo cultural alcanzado en la
development achieved in the deserts along the desrtica costa norte y central del Per en poca
north and central coasts of Peru in pre-Hispanic prehispnica. Con sus inicios hacia 900 d.C. y
times. Beginning approximately in the 9th century su consolidacin en torno a 1200 d.C., alrededor
B.C., the Chim reached the high point of its de 1400 d.C. los reyes Chim gobernaban un
consolidation by the end of the 12th century. By the imperio de ms de 1300 kilmetros a lo largo de
year 1400, the Chim ruled an empire that extended la costa peruana.
over 1,300 kilometers (almost 800 miles) along the
Luego de consolidar sus dominios en el valle Moche
Peruvian seacoast.
hacia 1200 d.C., los lderes de la sociedad Chim
After consolidating its territory in the Moche Valley conquistaron desde el ro Jequetepeque por el
in the 13th century, the leaders of Chim society
conquered an area that ran from the Jequetepeque

La llama fue usada como animal


de carga en las expediciones de
intercambio. Botella en forma de
llama (mchap 3342).
Llamas were used as beasts of
burden on trading expeditions.
Vessel in the shape of a llama.

El maz fue consumido como Las representaciones de


alimento, pero tambin fue animales amaznicos en el arte
empleado para hacer chicha Chim testimonia los contactos
de este cereal, una bebida de larga distancia de esta
fermantada de crucial sociedad costea. Cntaro con
importancia en las ceremonias. la representacin de un mono
Estatuilla Chim con corontas (mchap 0571).
de maz a modo de tocado Representations of animals from
(mchap 0598). the Amazon basin in Chim art
Corn was a source of food, but it proves there was contact with
was also used to make chicha, a these distant societies. Vessel
fermented beverage that was of with the representation of a
crucial importance in ceremonies. monkey.
Chim figurine with corncobs
forming a headdress.

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River in the north to the Santa River in the south. norte, hasta el ro Santa por el sur. Despus de 1400
After 1400 AD, the imperial borders ran from the d.C. ampliaron las fronteras imperiales desde el ro
Tmbez River to the Chilln Valley. At its peak, the Tmbez hasta el valle del Chilln. En su cspide el
Empire stretched 1,300 lineal kilometers, covering imperio abarcaba 1300 km, equivalentes a dos tercios
the equivalent of two-thirds of the agricultural lands de las tierras agrcolas del litoral peruano y de la
along the Peruvian coast, as well as the population poblacin que viva en ese medio desrtico.
that lived in this desert region.
Durante un tiempo los gobernantes Chim
At first, Chim leaders were able to resist the resistieron las ambiciones territoriales de los Inka,
territorial ambitions of the Inka, but by 1470, their pero, hacia 1470, su emperador Minchanaman fu
emperor Minchanaman was defeated and taken to derrotado y llevado al Cuzco. Bajo el dominio del
Cuzco. Under the dominion of the Inka Empire and Imperio Inka y gobernada por un dirigente ttere
governed by a local puppet ruler, the Chim society local, la sociedad Chim experiment un paulatino
underwent gradual dismemberment. With the arrival desmembramiento. Con la llegada de los espaoles
of the Spaniards and the Conquest, epidemics also y la conquista, arribaron tambin las epidemias que
struck, decimating the coastal population, and diezmaron a las poblaciones costeras, completando
completing the social disintegration of the once- la desintegracin social del otrora poderoso Reino
powerful Kingdom of Chimor. del Chimor.
The foundations of the economy Los ejes de la economa
By means of aqueducts that carried water across Mediante acueductos que transportaban agua desde
long distances and a broad network of irrigation enormes distancias y una amplia red de canales de
canals, Chim farmers rested large extensions of regado, los campesinos Chim ganaron grandes
land from the arid desert, in order to plant corn, extensiones de tierra al desierto para cultivar maz,

La agricultura fue uno de los pilares de la economa


Chim. Botellas en forma de calabaza y de
tubrculo, Chim-Inka (mchap 0549 y
mchap 0265).
Agriculture was one of the pillars of Chim
economy. Vessels in the shape of squash or tubers.

11

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squash, peppers, beans, cotton, yucca and other calabazas, aj, porotos, algodn, yuca y otros
agricultural products. They also planted trees to productos agrcolas. Tambin cultivaron rboles
grow native fruits: pacay, papaya, chirimoya and frutales para obtener pacay, papayas, chirimoyas
lcuma (eggfruit). y lcumas.
Mollusks, crustaceans and algae were gathered En las playas y roqueros practicaron la recoleccin
on beaches and in the rocky areas of the coast. de moluscos, crustceos y algas marinas. Los
Fishermen ventured onto the sea in tiny boats pescadores se adentraron mar adentro en pequeas
made of reeds to fish with hooks, while large rafts embarcaciones de totora para la pesca con anzuelo
employed nets. There were also divers who sought y en grandes balsas para la captura con redes.
seafood in deeper waters. Incluso practicaron el buceo para acceder a recursos
de aguas ms profundas.
Artisans were adept at weaving feathers into
their textiles, carving wood, weaving rush- Sus artesanos fueron diestros en el arte plumario,
matting, and making objects incorporating shells el tallado de la madera, la confeccin de esteras
and semiprecious stones. Many of their most y el trabajo en conchas y piedras semipreciosas.
outstanding copper and bronze objects were made Muchos de sus objetos de cobre y bronce ms
by artisans in the powerful neighboring Kingdom notables provienen de la tradicin metalrgica del
of Lambayeque, which the Chim conquered vecino y poderoso Reino de Lambayeque, al que
around 1375. Lambayeque boasted two truly conquistaron hacia 1375 d.C. Dos artesanas fueron
outstanding craft traditions: delicate workmanship realmente sobresalientes: el delicado trabajo del oro
in gold work and fine textiles. y la confeccin de finos textiles.

La textilera fue una de las


artesanas de mayor desarrollo
tcnico y delicadeza en la
cultura Chim. Tapiz
Chim-Chancay (mchap 0540).
Weaving was one of the
most highly developed crafts,
in terms of technique and
refinement, in the Chim
culture. Chim-Chancay
tapestry.

El molusco Spondylus se
relacionaba simblicamente
con la fertilidad y sus valvas
eran ofrendadas a los dioses
para propiciar lluvias (mchap
1126-1127).
The Spondylus mollusk was
symbolically related to fertility
and its valves were offered
to the gods to invoke rain.
Spondylus valves.

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Chim merchants exchanged these articles for A cambio de muchos de estos bienes los
potatoes, wool, leather, meat and other products comerciantes chim obtuvieron papas, lana,
from mountain herdsmen; coca leaves, wood, cueros, carne y otros productos de los pastores
monkeys and feathers from the tropical jungles; de la sierra; coca, madera, monos y plumas de aves
and valves of the Spondylus mollusk, from the de la selva tropical y valvas del molusco Spondylus,
Ecuadorian coast, among many other products. originario de la lejana costa ecuatoriana, entre
Two caravan terminals still exist in the center muchos otros artculos. En el centro de la ciudad
of the city of Chan Chan, where over 600 men de Chan Chan, hay dos terminales caravaneros,
transported both luxury and everyday goods to and donde ms de 600 individuos tenan a su cargo el
from the city on the backs of llamas. transporte a lomo de llama de bienes suntuarios y
de subsistencia desde y hacia la urbe.
(continued on page 16) (contina en la pgina 16)

El pelcano, como ave pescadora,


parece haber sido una metfora
de la orientacin martima de
la economa Chim. Maza
de piedra ornamentada con
pelcanos, Chim (mchap 3367).
The pelican, a bird that fishes,
seems to have been a metaphor
for the maritime orientation
of the Chim economy. Stone
mace decorated with pelicans.

Los Lambayeques, vecinos de


los Chim, tenan una larga
tradicin en el trabajo del cobre
y el bronce. Mscara funeraria
Lambayeque (mchap 3254). Los Chim fueron genuinos
The Lambayeque, neighbors of maestros en el trabajo del oro,
the Chim, had a long tradition tanto que cuando esta sociedad
in working copper and bronze. fue conquistada por los inkas,
Lambayeque funeral mask. sus orfebres fueron llevados
al Cuzco. Lmina discoidal
repujada, Chim (mchap 2945).
The Chim were genuine
masters in crafting gold. When
the Chim were conquered
by the Inca, their goldsmiths
Los acueductos y afloramientos de aguas subterrneas were taken to Cuzco. Chim
regaban las tierras agrcolas. Campo de cultivo en los discoidal plate.
alrededores de Chan Chan.
The aqueducts and underground springs of water
provided irrigation for crops. Productive fields near
Chan Chan.

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Infografia.fh11 6/11/14 10:11 P gina 1
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Chim: time, space and culture Chim: espacio, tiempo y cultura

The Chim civilization or Kingdom of Chimor, represents La cultura Chim o Reino del Chimor, representa el clmax
a highpoint in cultural development attained in the deserts del desarrollo cultural alcanzado en la desrtica costa norte y
of the north and central coast of Per in the pre-Hispanic central del Per en poca prehispnica. Con sus inicios hacia
period. The Chim Empire began in X Century and 900 d.C. y su consolidacin en torno a 1200 d.C., los reyes
consolidated its expansion by 1200 AD. By 1400 AD, Chim Chim cerca del ao 1400 d.C. gobernaban un imperio
kings ruled an empire that extended for more than 1,300 de ms de 1300 kilmetros a lo largo de la costa peruana.
kilometers (almost 800 miles) along the Peruvian coast.

RANGE OF RANGO DE FECHA


RADIOCARBON RADIOCARBNICA
READINGS DEL TRAJE
OF THE SUIT
Aos despus de Cristo Presente
Years after Christ Present

100 d.C. 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 d.C.
1375
CHIM CONQUISTA
A LAMBAYEQUE
1375
MOCHE CHIM EMPIRE CONQUERS
LAMBAYEQUE CULTURE
700
FIN DE LA
CULTURA MOCHE
L A M B AY E Q UE
700
END OF THE
MOCHE CULTURE

CHIM
900 1200 1400
INICIO DE CONSOLIDACIN IMPERIO CHIM
LA CULTURA DOMINIO CHIM EN ENTRE ROS TMBEZ
CHIM VALLE MOCHE Y CHILLN
900 1200 1400
START OF CONSOLIDATION CHIM EMPIRE EXTENDS
THE CHIM OF CHIM FROM TMBEZ
CULTURE DOMINATION TO CHILLN RIVERS
OF THE MOCHE
VALLEY 1200-1400
IMPERIO CHIM ENTRE
WA R I ROS JEQUETEPEQUE
Y SANTA
1200- 1400
CHIM EMPIRE
EXTENDS FROM
JEQUETEPEQUE TO
SANTA RIVERS
Abajo: Seor de
INKA Lambayaque despus
1470 1532
Abajo: Ruinas de Chan Chan. INKAS CONQUISTAN LLEGADA DE LOS de la conquista de Chim.
CHIM ESPAOLES
Vista panormica. 1470 Y FIN DEL IMPERIO Bellow: A Lambayaque
INKAS CONQUER INKA
Bellow: Panoramic view of CHIM 1532 king after the Chim
SPANIARDS ARRIVE,
the Chan Chan ruins. END OF THE INKA conquest.
EMPIRE

Cuatro pilares
de la economa Chim
La sociedad Chim vivi de
la agricultura de riego en
los valles y de la explotacin
de los recursos del mar,
pero adems goz de una
oreciente industria artesanal
de bienes valiosos y desarroll
A capital made of clay Una capital de barro un intenso comercio con
Located at the edge of the sea Ubicada a orillas del mar otras regiones.
and covering an area of more y con una supercie de ms Four pillars
than 20 square kilometers, de 20 km2, Chan Chan la of the Chim economy
Chan Chan the capital of the capital del imperio es la The Chim society lived from
Empire is the largest clay ciudad de barro ms extensa the lands that they could
city on the continent. It was del continente. Puede haber irrigate in the valleys and from
built to house between albergado entre 50 y 100 exploiting the riches of the sea.
50,000 and 100,000 people. mil habitantes. They also enjoyed a flourishing
crafts industry, providing
valuable goods to supplement
trade with neighboring
regions.

14

Composici n
Infografia.fh11 6/11/14 10:11 P gina 2
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Colombia
Ecuador

El Reino del Chimor Ecuador A m a z onas

T mbez
The legend goes Pi
ur
a
According to an ancient myth Expansin
recorded by the Spaniards in Chim Desierto
de Sechura
despus
the xvi Century from the stories Lamb
a ye q u
e
de 1400
of the last Muchik (Mochica) Chim epe
q u e t qu e
Je Brasil
inhabitants of the region, the Cuenta la leyenda expansion
after 1400 Chan Chan
founder of the Chim royal Segn un viejo Mo
che

dynasty, Taycanamo, reached mito recogido por Expansin


Valle Moche Per
nta
Chim entre Sa
the coast of northern Per with los espaoles en el
1200 y 1400
a fleet of rafts. He settled his siglo xvi de boca Chim expansion
people on the lower side of the de los ltimos habitantes between
Moche Valley, announcing that muchik de la regin, 1200 and 1400
he had been send from the el fundador de la dinasta

n
l l
i
Ch
sea to govern that land. real Chim, Taycanamo,

Uru
bam
arrib a las costas del
reas sobre

ba
lima
norte del Per en una 3.000 m de altura
otilla de balsas. Asent Land over 3.000 m Wari
o
P is c
con su gente en el curso
inferior del valle Moche,

Ic a
diciendo que haba sido Na
sca

enviado desde el mar


para gobernar esta tierra.

Textile treasures
in the service of the Empire REA
AMPLIADA
The Chim Empire is best ENLARGED
known for its craftsmanship in AREA
OCANO PACFICO
gold and its architecture, but Joyas y textiles PACIFIC OCEAN
the weavers also made veritable al servicio del Imperio
masterpieces, which retain, La cultura Chim es ms
abstract, and renew the rich conocida por su orfebrera en
heritage in textiles inherited oro y su arquitectura, pero Once ciudadelas,
from earlier cultures, such as sus tejedoras hicieron tambin once reyes
Paracas, Nasca, Moche and Wari. verdaderas obras maestras, Eleven compounds, Construidas sucesivamente
The imagery contained in the que recogen, sintetizan y eleven kings entre los siglos ix y xv,
finest Chim weavings renuevan la rica herencia Built one after another between las hermticas ciudadelas de
follows the tradition of ancient textil legada por culturas ms the ix and xv centuries, the Chan Chan con sus muros
maritime and agricultural tempranas como Parakas, hermetic compounds at Chan imponentes y su nica
themes from the Peruvian coast, Nasca, Moche y Wari. Las Chan with imposing walls entrada remarcan el carcter
but was designed with new imgenes contenidas en los and just one entrance exclusivo y sagrado de la
esthetic conceptions and in a nos tejidos Chim insisten demonstrate the exclusive arquitectura donde residi la
close relationship with the en antiguos temas martimos and sacred character of the poderosa dinasta de once
political, social, economic and y agrcolas de la costa peruana, architecture where the powerful reyes que gobernaron Chim.
spiritual systems of the times. pero bajo nuevas concepciones dynasty of eleven kings ruled El acceso estaba estrictamente
estticas y en estrecha relacin the Chim. Access to the prohibido para el comn
con el sistema poltico, compounds was forbidden de la gente.
econmico, social y de creencias to commoners.
de la poca.

15

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C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Colombia
Ecuador

Ecuador A m a z onas

El Reino del Chimor

T mbez
The legend goes Pi
ur
a
According to an ancient myth Expansin
recorded by the Spaniards in Chim Desierto
de Sechura
despus
the xvi Century from the stories Lamb
a ye q u
e
de 1400
of the last Muchik (Mochica) Chim epe
q u e t qu e
Je Brasil
inhabitants of the region, the Cuenta la leyenda expansion
after 1400 Chan Chan
founder of the Chim royal Segn un viejo Mo
che

dynasty, Taycanamo, reached mito recogido por Expansin


Valle Moche Per
nta
Chim entre Sa
the coast of northern Per with los espaoles en el
1200 y 1400
a fleet of rafts. He settled his siglo xvi de boca Chim expansion
people on the lower side of the de los ltimos habitantes between
Moche Valley, announcing that muchik de la regin, 1200 and 1400
he had been send from the el fundador de la dinasta

n
l l
i
Ch
sea to govern that land. real Chim, Taycanamo,

Uru
bam
arrib a las costas del
reas sobre

ba
lima
norte del Per en una 3.000 m de altura
otilla de balsas. Asent Land over 3.000 m Wari
o
P is c
con su gente en el curso
inferior del valle Moche,

Ic a
diciendo que haba sido Na
sca

enviado desde el mar


para gobernar esta tierra.

Textile treasures
in the service of the Empire REA
AMPLIADA
The Chim Empire is best ENLARGED
known for its craftsmanship in AREA
OCANO PACFICO
gold and its architecture, but Joyas y textiles PACIFIC OCEAN
the weavers also made veritable al servicio del Imperio
masterpieces, which retain, La cultura Chim es ms
abstract, and renew the rich conocida por su orfebrera en
heritage in textiles inherited oro y su arquitectura, pero Once ciudadelas,
from earlier cultures, such as sus tejedoras hicieron tambin once reyes
Paracas, Nasca, Moche and Wari. verdaderas obras maestras, Eleven compounds, Construidas sucesivamente
The imagery contained in the que recogen, sintetizan y eleven kings entre los siglos ix y xv,
finest Chim weavings renuevan la rica herencia Built one after another between las hermticas ciudadelas de
follows the tradition of ancient textil legada por culturas ms the ix and xv centuries, the Chan Chan con sus muros
maritime and agricultural tempranas como Parakas, hermetic compounds at Chan imponentes y su nica
themes from the Peruvian coast, Nasca, Moche y Wari. Las Chan with imposing walls entrada remarcan el carcter
but was designed with new imgenes contenidas en los and just one entrance exclusivo y sagrado de la
esthetic conceptions and in a nos tejidos Chim insisten demonstrate the exclusive arquitectura donde residi la
close relationship with the en antiguos temas martimos and sacred character of the poderosa dinasta de once
political, social, economic and y agrcolas de la costa peruana, architecture where the powerful reyes que gobernaron Chim.
spiritual systems of the times. pero bajo nuevas concepciones dynasty of eleven kings ruled El acceso estaba estrictamente
estticas y en estrecha relacin the Chim. Access to the prohibido para el comn
con el sistema poltico, compounds was forbidden de la gente.
econmico, social y de creencias to commoners.
de la poca.

15

Composici n
(continued from page 13) (viene de la pgina 13)

Chan Chan, the capital of the Kingdom Chan Chan, la capital del Reino
Chan Chan (Sun Sun in English) was one of the Chan Chan (Sol Sol en espaol) fue una de las urbes
most singular urban centers in the New World. ms notables del Nuevo Mundo. Un vasto paisaje
Today, a vast landscape of adobe walls, spreading de muros de adobe esparcidos sobre el desierto de
across the desert along what today is the north lo que hoy es la costa norte del Per.
coast of Per, is all that survives.
Los suburbios de la capital del Chimor se
The suburbs of the capital of the Chimor Empire componan de amplias barriadas populares de miles
were composed of large neighborhoods with de modestas viviendas de caa para los campesinos,
thousands of modest dwellings built of cane for pescadores y artesanos del reino. Haba tambin
the peasants, fishermen and craftsmen of the varias pirmides escalonadas o huacas, as como
kingdom. There were also a number of stepped grandes recintos de adobe donde viva la nobleza
pyramids, known as huacas, as well as large housing menor y los funcionarios del estado. En el ncleo
projects, constructed with adobe, where minor de la ciudad se levantaba el complejo arquitectnico
nobility and State functionaries lived. A spectacular ms espectacular: once enormes ciudadelas,
architectural complex dominated the center of the rodeadas por muros de adobe de hasta 12 metros
city: 11 enormous citadels, surrounded by adobe de alto y 600 metros de largo, donde residan
walls rising to heights of 12 meters (almost 40 feet) los gobernantes y tenan lugar los principales
and 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) long, where the ceremoniales del reino.
ruling class lived and oversaw the kingdoms major
ritual ceremonies.

Vista de las ruinas de la ciudad


de Chan Chan.
A view of the ruins of the city
of Chan Chan.

Plano general de la urbe de


Chan Chan, capital del Reino
del Chimor (segn Moseley
1992: fig. 113).
A general plan of the city of
Chan Chan, capital of the
Chimor Kingdom.

16

capitulo1.indd 16 10/31/05 10:18:44 PM


The forbidden compounds Las ciudadelas prohibidas
A labyrinthine network of narrow corridors, Una laberntica red de estrechos corredores,
flanked by high walls of clay blocking the view, flanqueados por altos muros de barro que bloquean
communicated with different sectors inside these la vista, comunicaba los diferentes sectores internos
eleven monumental ceremonial centers. Each de estos once monumentales centros ceremoniales.
one of them offered an initial sector with two or Cada uno de ellos presentaba un primer sector
three large walled plazas, outfitted with a ramp, con dos o tres grandes plazas amuralladas dotadas
a proscenium, and several wooden statues placed de una rampa, un proscenio y varias estatuas de
in niches in the walls. Here, religious ceremonies madera encajadas en nichos de las paredes. All
dedicated to the mummies of ancestors of rulers se realizaban ceremonias religiosas en torno a las
and other important massive civic activities momias de los ancestros de los gobernantes y otras
took place. actividades cvicas masivas del ms alto nivel.
En un segundo sector se disponan decenas de

Los reservorios de agua,


conocidos localmente como
huachaques, son uno de los
principales componentes de las
ciudadelas.
The reservoirs for water, known
as huachaques, are another of
the principal components of the
compounds.

Una de las caractersticas de


las ciudadelas de Chan Chan
fueron sus largos y estrechos
corredores, cuyo acceso slo
estaba permitido a la lite.
One of the characteristics of the
compounds at Chan Chan was
the long and narrow corridor,
access to which was only
permitted to the elite.

17

capitulo1.indd 17 6/11/14 10:04:27


In a second sector, there were dozens of U-shaped cuartos en forma de U, con motivos geomtricos
rooms, whose walls were decorated with incised y de animales bellamente labrados en los muros.
geometric and zoomorphic motifs. Several of the Algunos cuartos sirvieron como bodegas estatales
rooms served as state warehouses for safekeeping para acumular artculos valiosos, tales como textiles
valuable goods, such as textiles and gold objects. y orfebrera. Otros, conocidos como audiencias,
Others, known as audiencias (tribunals), were fueron lugares donde se realizaban ritos ms
reserved for conducting strictly private rituals, privados y donde se redistribuan algunos de los
where the treasure kept in the storerooms could valiosos objetos depositados en las bodegas. En este
be redistributed among the powerful. The cistern sector se encuentra tambin la cisterna o reservorio
that served as the communal reservoir, stocked repleto de plantas y peces que debi ser central
with fish and plants, was also located here, and the en los ritos relativos a la fertilidad agrcola.
surrounding enclosure must have been the site for El tercer sector era el ms oculto y privado de
rituals devoted to agricultural fertility. la ciudadela. Contena la sacrosanta plataforma
funeraria a la cual se suba por una rampa lateral.
The third sector was the most hidden and private of
En una larga tumba en forma de T descansaban los
the building. The sacred funeral platform, reached
restos del Ci Quic o Emperador fundador de cada
by a lateral ramp, was located here. The remains of
linaje real, rodeado por las tumbas de quienes lo
Ci Quic, or the Emperor who founded each royal
acompaaron en su viaje al ms all. Detrs estaban
lineage, rested in a T-shaped tomb, surrounded by
las cocinas y chicheras, as como las viviendas del
the tombs of those who accompanied the dignitary
personal de servicio.
on his voyage to the Great Beyond. Behind this
sanctuary, the kitchens and canteens, as well as the
living space of the servants, was located.

Estas estructuras en forma


de U, conocidas como
audiencias, fueron tpicas de
las ciudadelas de Chan Chan y
desempearon un importante
papel en la distribucin de la
riqueza de cada linaje real.
These U-shaped structures,
known as audiencias, or
tribunals, were typical of the
compounds at Chan Chan and
played an important role in
the distribution of the riches of
each royal lineage.

18

capitulo1.indd 18 10/31/05 10:19:45 PM


Each building had, at one time, been the principal Cada ciudadela fue en su momento la sede principal
seat of the government, the center of distribution de gobierno, el centro de redistribucin de la
of the kingdoms wealth, and the sanctuary where, riqueza del reino y el santuario donde, por medio
through the cult devoted to the deceased ancestors del culto a los antepasados de los gobernantes,
of the rulers, rituals were dedicated to agricultural se peda por la fertilidad agrcola. Cuando el
fertility. When a new king took power, he built poder pasaba a un nuevo rey, ste construa su
his own center, while the descendents of the propio centro y los descendientes del rey difunto
recently-deceased king continued to use the existing continuaban usando sus antiguas ciudadelas, las que
buildings, where they continued their political, retenan en parte sus funciones polticas, rituales y,
ritual, and especially economical functions to a especialmente, econmicas.
certain degree.

El lugar ms privado de cada ciudadela era la


plataforma funeraria donde descansaban los restos
del gobernante. Botella con la representacin de una
procesin funeraria Chim (mchap 3374).
The most private place in each compound was the
funeral platform, where a deceased rulers remains
were placed. Vessel with a representation of
a funeral procession.

Tumba del gobernante en la


ciudadela Tschudi. Se encontr
rodeada por las tumbas de
quienes lo acompaaron en su
viaje al mundo de los muertos.
Tomb of a ruler at the Tschudi
Compound, surrounded
by the tombs of those who
accompanied the ruler on his
voyage to the world of the dead.

19

capitulo1.indd 19 10/31/05 10:20:03 PM


The ceremonial El traje ceremonial
costume in the en el contexto de la
context of Chim textilera Chim
textile traditions

Chim textiles Textiles Chim


Chim textile art is the result of a lengthy tradition El arte textil Chim es el resultado de una larga
begun by the Moche, the Chims predecessor tradicin iniciada por los moche, sus predecesores
in the region. The Chim inherited fundamental en la regin. De ella heredan sus principales rasgos
technological capacities and certain iconographic tecnolgicos y ciertos motivos iconogrficos que
motifs from the Moche that referred to the areas hacen referencia al medio ambiente marino como
marine environment, such as birds and fish. The aves y peces recrendolo con su particular modo
Chim recreated the designs, however, in their own de representacin. La textilera de esta cultura
special form of representation. The weaving of fue una prestigiosa e influyente artesana que se
this culture became a prestigious and influential expandi por toda la costa norte y central del Per,
craft that expanded along the entire north and llegando incluso a rivalizar con la tradicin de las
central coast of Per. Its influence even rivaled that finsimas tapiceras que caracterizan la textilera de
of the traditions of the highly refined weavings los imperios Wari y Tiwanaku.
that characterized the textiles of the Wari and
La artesana textil Chim, aunque forma parte
Tiwanaku empires.
de una ms amplia tradicin costea, tiene una
Although Chim textile craft forms part of a identidad propia que se manifiesta en determinados
greater coastal tradition, it has its own particular rasgos tcnicos y estilsticos que la distinguen
identity that can be seen in determined technical claramente respecto de la de sus vecinos y
and stylistic characteristics which distinguishes it contemporneos. Entre las caractersticas ms
clearly from those of the Chims neighbors and reconocibles se encuentra el uso de hilos de
contemporaries. Among the most recognizable algodn de un solo cabo torcidos en S en los
characteristics are the use of cotton thread of just tejidos planos o ligamento tela, e hilos plegados
one strand twisted in S for plain weaves and folded y retorcidos en Z, para los tejidos de tapicera.
and twisted threads in Z, for tapestry weaving. Otro rasgo caracterstico es la combinacin de
Another common characteristic is the combination urdimbres dobles o pareadas con tramas simples
of double or paired warps with simple or single o singulares. Entre las estructuras textiles que ms
wefts. Among the textile structures that were desarrollaron los tejedores chim se encuentran la
most developed by Chim weavers can be found tapicera en su variedad ranurada y los livianos y
tapestry in a variety of slit or openwork designs transparentes tejidos reticulados y de gasa vuelta.
and the light and transparent reticulated or plain Con estas tcnicas realizaron una amplia gama de
weave gauze textiles. The Chim produced a tejidos, destacando especialmente la confeccin de
wide range of textiles with these techniques, the trajes compuestos por diferentes prendas de vestir
most outstanding of which were the costumes que comparten un estilo comn, la mayor parte de
composed of several different garments sharing a uso ceremonial o consagrado a ofrendas funerarias.
common style, most often used in ceremonies or El traje de la coleccin del Museo Chileno de Arte

20

capitulo2.indd 20 10/31/05 10:46:46 PM


consecrated as funerary offerings. The costume Precolombino es uno de los ejemplos ms notables
from the collection at the Museo Chileno de Arte de esta clase de tejidos, adems de reflejar un
Precolombino is one of the most outstanding momento culminante del desarrollo del arte textil
examples of this kind of weaving, in addition to Chim. ste parece ser el nico en su categora que
reflecting a peak moment in the development of se conserva completo, pues los escasos ejemplares
the Chim textile art. This set of garments appears del mismo estilo que se conocen en las colecciones
to be the only one in its category that has survived mundiales, corresponden a prendas aisladas o
intact. The few existing examples of this style fragmentos de ellas.
that can be found in international collections are
isolated pieces or fragments of them.

Ejemplo de traje Chim cuyas


tres prendas bsicas, camisa,
taparrabo y turbante, comparten
las mismas tcnicas textiles e
iconografa. (Tomado de A.P.
Rowe 1984: 39, Figs.2, 3 y 4).
An example of a Chim costume
whose three basic components,
a tunic, a breechcloth and a
turban, share similar textile
techniques and iconography.

Glossary Glosario

El Hilado es el proceso a travs del cual un conjunto de fibras


vegetales o animales se transforman en hilos, al ordenarse y
torcerse, ya sea con una rotacin hacia la izquierda (torsin
en S) o con un giro hacia la derecha (torsin en Z). Para
obtener un hilo ms grueso y resistente se doblan y vuelven a
torcer uno o ms hilos juntos, por lo general en la direccin
opuesta al original, para evitar que se destuerzan.
Spinning is a process by which a number of vegetal or animal
fibers are transformed into thread, on ordering and twisting
them, either with a rotation to the left (torsion in S) or with a
spin to the right (torsion in Z). To obtain a thicker and more
resistant thread, one or more strands are folded and twisted
again, usually in the opposite direction, to avoid unraveling.

21

capitulo2.indd 21 8/11/05 13:02:59


The ceremonial costume El traje ceremonial
This outfit is integrated by three basic garments Este traje est integrado por las tres prendas
that compose the traditional male dress of the bsicas que componen la vestimenta masculina
coastal region of Peru: a headdress in the form of tradicional de la regin costea del Per: un
a turban, a shirt or tunic and a breechcloth, which turbante, una camisa o tnica y un taparrabo,
share identical raw materials, textile structures and que comparten materias primas, estructuras
a common iconography. textiles y una composicin iconogrfica comn.
The turban is made up of a long, thin rectangular El turbante est compuesto por un largo y
piece of cloth that ends in two sections or panels delgado pao rectangular que termina en dos
with elaborate designs. This cloth was wrapped secciones o paneles con elaborados diseos. Este
around the head, creating a bulky headdress. The pao envolva la cabeza creando un abultado
decorated ends fell freely and visibly over the tocado, y los extremos decorados caan libres
individuals torso or, more probably, over his back. y visibles sobre el torso del individuo o, ms
probablemente, sobre la espalda.
The tunic, with short sleeves, a wide, short
shape, and an appearance of being light, was also La camisa con mangas, de forma ancha y corta,
characteristic of dress on the coast, differing from y aspecto liviano, es tambin caracterstica del
a similar garment used in the Andean mountains, vestuario de la costa, a diferencia de su homloga
called an unku, which had a thicker weave, no de la sierra andina, denominada unku, de tejido ms
sleeves, and a length that reached the knees. grueso, sin mangas y de largo hasta las rodillas.
The breechcloth was composed of a long, thin El taparrabos comprende una larga tela delgada,
cloth, similar to the fabric used in the turban, to similar al pao del turbante, al que se le cosi en
which a large rectangular panel of designs, similar uno de sus extremos un gran panel rectangular
to those used in the above-mentioned pieces, was de igual diseo que las prendas anteriores. Este
sewn at one end. This panel was folded and passed pao se pasaba doblado por la entrepierna a modo
through the crotch like underdrawers, with the de calzn, quedando el panel rectangular por
rectangular panel in front, as if it were a one-sided delante del individuo, como si fuera un faldelln
short skirt. de una sola cara.

Personaje que muestra la forma


de vestir el taparrabo-faldelln.
Anverso y reverso de un mango
de cuchillo-tumi de bronce
Chim. (Tomado de A.P. Rowe
1984: 39, Fig.8).
A personage who shows how the
breechcloth-skirt was used. The
front and back of the handle of
a Chim bronze knife (tumi).

The suit in time El traje en el tiempo


Among the multiple investigations to which the outfit was Entre los mltiples estudios a los que fue sometido el traje
submitted to document it, to understand the technology used para documentarlo, comprender su tecnologa y contexto de
in making it, and the context of its use, we wish to mention its uso, destaca su datacin por medio de radiocarbn 14, a fin
dating by Radiocarbon 14, to establish its approximate age. The de aproximarse a su fecha de manufactura. El anlisis de un
analysis of a miniscule fragment of thread taken from a fringe milimtrico fragmento de hilado obtenido de un fleco de la
on the tunic dated the textile between 1320 and 1440, which camisa dieron una antigedad entre los aos 1320 a 1440 de
coincided with the last period of development of the Chim la era cristiana, coincidiendo con la ltima poca de desarrollo
society, shortly before the Inca conquest. de la sociedad Chim, antes que fuera conquistada
por los inkas.

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capitulo2.indd 22 10/31/05 10:48:25 PM


The materials used in the outfit: fibers, threads Materialidad textil del traje: fibras, hilados y teido
and dyed Los tejedores Chim utilizaron indistintamente
The Chim weavers used cotton and fibers from algodn y fibra de pelo de camlido para
camelids (llamas, alpacas, or more rarely, vicua) realizar sus obras. El algodn es nativo de la
indistinctly to make their threads. Cotton is costa desrtica y la fibra de camlido es obtenida
native to the desert coast, and camelids fibers por medio de intercambios con la sierra andina.
were obtained by trading with the adjacent El algodn, delicado y a la vez resistente, les
Andean mountain regions. The cotton, delicate permiti confeccionar telas livianas y delgadas,
yet resistant, allowed weaving light, thin cloth. o usarlo como firmes urdimbres de tejidos de
It also served for the warps of textiles of large grandes dimensiones y en estructuras textiles ms
dimensions, and in more complex textile structures. complejas. La fibra de camlido, por su parte,
The llama or alpaca fiber, on the other hand, was se utiliz preferentemente para realizar la
preferred for producing the highly polychromatic iconografa de intensa policroma que caracteriza
representations of the iconography that a los textiles costeos, pues al teirse ms
characterized coastal textiles, as these fibers were fcilmente que el algodn, se consigue una gama
easier to dye than cotton, thus facilitating a much cromtica mucho mayor.
wider range of colors.
Las tres prendas del traje estn hechas con fibras
The three pieces of this outfit are made of fibers de ambas materialidades. De algodn es el tejido
of both materials. The transparent weaving of the transparente del soporte del traje, as como el
ground of the tunic is cotton, as is the ground that tejido base que sustenta las aplicaciones planas y
sustains the flat and volumetric applications. On volumtricas. En cambio, todas las aplicaciones
the other hand, all of the applications have been fueron realizadas con fibras de camlido,
made with llama or alpaca fiber, probably alpaca posiblemente de alpaca (Lama pacos), dada su
(Lama pacos), given its fine and silky character. fineza y sedosidad.
In the textile that served as the ground for the En el tejido que operaba como soporte del traje,
tunic, the threads of the warp are of two strands, los hilados de urdimbres son de dos cabos, de
tightly twisted in Z, while the weft is composed torsin fuerte en direccin Z, en tanto la trama
of a very fine thread of a single stand twisted in S, es un hilo muy fino de un solo cabo torcido en S,
both types characteristic of Chim cotton spinning ambos tipos caractersticos de la hilatura Chim del
techniques. The camelids fibers, on the other hand, algodn. Los de fibra de camlido, en cambio, son
are uniform in all of the garments, corresponding to uniformes en todas las prendas, correspondiendo
a fine spinning of two threads with a loose S twist. a hilados finos de dos cabos y de torsin floja
In contrast to the cotton thread which maintained en direccin S. A diferencia de los hilados de
its natural light coffee color, the camelids fibers algodn que conservan su color caf claro natural,
were dyed with natural pigments in at least 20 los de fibra de camlido se tieron con pigmentos
tones with striking nuances. The tunic is the naturales consiguiendo al menos 20 tonos diferentes
garment that boasts the greatest variety of colors, con algunos matices. La camisa es la prenda que
while the tones and nuances of the reds are richer ostenta la mayor variedad de colores, mientras que
los tonos y matices de rojos son ms abundantes

Algodn nativo hilado. Museo


de Sicn, Lambayeque, Norte
del Per.
Native spun cotton.

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capitulo2.indd 23 10/31/05 10:49:11 PM


in the other garments. Although the origin of the en el traje. Aunque no se conoce el origen de la
majority of these dyes is unknown, one of the reds mayora de los tintes usados, se sabe que al menos
was made from the cochineal insect. The rest of una de las variedades de rojo provendra del insecto
the dyes are possibly of vegetable origin, such as cochinilla. El resto de los tintes, posiblemente
indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa) for blue and pepper se han obtenido de vegetales, como el ndigo
tree seeds (Schinus molle) for yellow. Some are of (Indigofera suffruticosa) para el azul y el molle
mineral origin, pigments made from cinnabar and (Schinus molle) para el amarillo, o de los pigmentos
hematite, which provided red and brown tones. minerales cinabrio y hematita, que producen
tonalidades rojas y cafs.

Andean Cotton Algodones Andinos


Cotton (Gossypium barbadense) is native to the Peruvian coast. El algodn (Gossypium barbadense) es una especie nativa de la
Its cultivation does not require special soil conditions or costa del Per. Su cultivo no requiere de grandes condiciones
care, and the crop can be harvested eight to ten months after de suelo ni mantenimiento y puede ser cosechada luego de
planting. These characteristics have permitted the survival of ocho a diez meses de ser plantada. Estas caractersticas han
certain ancient colored varieties of cotton which astonished permitido que an hoy sobrevivan las antiguas variedades
Colonial chroniclers who visited the region. Five tonalities de algodn de colores que describan con asombro los
are known today: white, bronze, light coffee, dark coffee and cronistas coloniales en la regin. Cinco son las tonalidades que
a pinkish gray. These varieties are still a part of the intense actualmente se conocen: blanco, bronceado, caf claro, caf
traditional textile activity that has been maintained since oscuro y gris-rosado. Estas variedades continan formando
pre-Hispanic times. parte de una intensa actividad textil tradicional que se
mantiene desde pocas prehispnicas.

Cpsulas de algodn nativo


de colores, Museo de Sicn,
Lambayeque, Norte del Per.
Flowers made of native,
naturally colored cotton.

Algodn blanco en un campo de


cultivo en Ferreafe,
Lambayeque, Norte del Per.
White cotton growing in a field
in Ferreafe, Lambayeque,
Northern Per.

Origin of the color red Origen del color rojo


Peruvian cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) is a small insect La cochinilla peruana (Dactylopius coccus) es un pequeo
that lives and feeds on a variety of tuna (prickly pear) cactus insecto que vive y se alimenta de una variedad de cactus
(Opuntia Ficus-indica), which grows in arid climates. An intense tunero, la Opuntia Ficus-indica, que crece en las zonas
dark red pigment is obtained from the female of the species. ridas. De las hembras de esta especie se obtiene un intenso
The pigment was widely used to dye textiles in the Andean pigmento de color rojo oscuro, el que fue ampliamente
region in pre-Hispanic times. utilizado como material tintreo en la textilera
prehispnica andina.

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capitulo2.indd 24 3/11/05 22:59:31


Revealing the structure of the outfit Revelando la estructura textil del traje
Formally, the outfit is composed of two levels Formalmente, el traje est compuesto de dos
of textures, a flat one that is the ground, and niveles de texturas, una plana que es el soporte, y
another that has three dimensions, expressed otra tridimensional, expresada en las abundantes
in the abundant woven applications that cover aplicaciones tejidas que ocupan prcticamente toda
almost all the decorated surface of the garments. la superficie decorada de las prendas. Llama la
It is surprising that the weavers took such pains atencin el empeo de los tejedores por cubrir
to cover the surface of a ground as we will see con aplicaciones un soporte que como se ver ms
later that had been so carefully prepared. adelante ha sido tan cuidadosamente elaborado.
Besides, its composition is established by Por otra parte, su composicin est dada por
superimposing three textile structures that la superposicin de tres estructuras textiles,
together create the unit or module of rectangular que juntas dan origen a una unidad o mdulo
representation which is repeated in all the garments. de representacin rectangular, que se repite en
The first is the ground on which the design of a todas las prendas. La primera es el soporte donde
stepped cross in the center is found. The profiles se encuentra el diseo de una cruz escalonada
of four personages flank the central design, al centro y cuatro personajes de perfil que la
surrounded by four motifs at the corners that flanquean, adems de cuatro motivos en las
alternate the representation of a personage with esquinas, que alternan la representacin de un
that of a circle. On top of this primary structure, personaje y un crculo. Sobre esta estructura
woven applications and volumes can be found primera, se disponen las aplicaciones y volmenes
bordering the motifs or along the perimeter of the tejidos, bordeando los motivos o en el permetro
main designs. The third and final structure consists de los diseos principales. La tercera y ltima
of finials that complete the textiles composition. estructura son las terminaciones que rematan la
composicin del tejido.

Representacin de la unidad o mdulo de composicin iconogrfica


del atuendo. (Tomado de Brugnoli et al. 1997: 34, Fig.26).
Representation of a unit or module of the costumes
iconographic composition.

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Aplicaciones:
Volmenes tejidos y borlas.
Applications:
Volumetric Weavings
and Tassels.

Aplicaciones:
Discos tejidos.
Applications:
Woven Disks.

Soporte tejido a telar.


Ground woven
on loom.

Terminacin:
Flecadura.
Trimming:
Representacin grfica de los
Fringe.
tres sistemas textiles del traje.
(Tomado de Brugnoli et al.
1997: 15).
A graphic representation of
the three textile systems found
in the costume.

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capitulo2.indd 26 3/11/05 22:59:54


The ground El soporte
The ground of the weaving is a veritable El soporte del textil es un verdadero contrapunto
counterpoint between the flat closed structures entre estructuras planas cerradas definidas por
defined by the tapestry and open structures made la tapicera y estructuras abiertas realizadas en
from three techniques: the reticular weaving with base a tres tcnicas: el tejido reticular anudado
a triangular base, the plain gauze weave and the de base triangular, la gasa vuelta y el tejido plano
plain open weave. Among the tapestry techniques abierto. Entre las tcnicas de tapicera se distinguen
we can recognize the slit or openwork tapestry el ranurado (con espacios abiertos) y la trama
weave and the eccentric weft. The combination excntrica. La combinacin de estos dos tipos de
of these two types of structures demonstrate the estructuras testimonia el dominio tcnico de sus
technical expertise of the weavers, who utilized the tejedores, quienes utilizaron la densa tapicera
thick tapestry to give sufficient density to a weave para dar suficiente solidez al tejido que contiene

Glossary Glosario

El Tejido Plano o Ligamento Tela la estructura bsica del tejido Es de Urdimbres Pareadas, si la trama enlaza de a dos hilos de
a telar consiste en pasar una trama (hilado horizontal) sobre urdimbre juntos.
y bajo cada urdimbre (hilado vertical). El tejido es balanceado Paired Warps occur when the weft is crossed by two warp
cuando tramas y urdimbres se enlazan una a una. threads joined together.
A Plain Weave, the basic structure of textiles woven on a loom,
is prepared by passing a weft, or horizontal, thread over and
under each warp, or vertical, thread. The weave is balanced
when wefts and warps are interwoven on a one to one basis.

Es un Tejido Plano Abierto cuando las pasadas de trama estn


espaciadas regularmente entre s, generando una estructura
calada.
When the passages of threads through weft leave equal open
spaces in a structure, it is called an Open Plain Weave.

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that contained open zones; it was also testimony las zonas abiertas; testimonia tambin su habilidad
to the weavers ability to conserve the rigorous para ordenar rigurosamente la ortogonalidad de
orthogonal shape of the cloth through the reticular la tela a travs de una retcula de filas y columnas.
pattern of rows and columns. The framework of El marco del mdulo de diseo fue realizado en
the design module was done in weft-faced weave tejido faz de trama y las pequeas superficies
and the small square surfaces in slit or openwork cuadradas con tapicera ranurada. En los espacios
tapestry. In the transparent spaces of the support, transparentes del soporte se han representado
personages in profile in tapestry are represented, as personajes de perfil en tapicera y doble crculos
well as designs of double circles in plain wave that en tejido plano que sirven de base para algunas
serve as the base for a number of later volumetric aplicaciones volumtricas posteriores.
applications.

Detalle del tejido del soporte:


Enlace del tejido reticular al
tejido en faz de trama. (Tomado
de Brugnoli et al. 1997:17, Fig.7)
Detail of the ground textile.
The joining of the reticular weave
with the weft-faceweave.

Las diferentes estructuras


textiles del soporte junto a
las aplicaciones planas y en
volumen. Detalle de un mdulo
de diseo de la camisa del traje.
The different textile structures
of the ground, together
with plain and volumetric
applications. Detail of a design
Doble crculo del soporte module on the ceremonial tunic.
textil, tejido en faz de trama.
(Tomado de Brugnoli et al.
1997: 16, Fig.6).
Double circle on the ground
textile, weft-face weave.

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Glossary Glosario

El Tejido Faz de Urdimbre es una estructura tejida a telar El Tejido Reticular de Base Triangular es una tcnica estructural
derivada del Tejido Plano, que se obtiene por el aumento de la realizada en telar que es original de los pueblos prehispnicos
densidad de los hilos de urdimbre, quedando ocultos los hilos andinos. Comprende una retcula confeccionada en base a la
de tramas bajo los primeros. Se logra un efecto de acanalado disposicin de hilos pares de urdimbre que son anudados por
en la horizontal. En el Tejido Faz de Trama, en cambio, son las hilos de trama a espacios regulares. Esta retcula sirve de base
tramas las que aumentan su densidad, quedando ocultas bajo para diferentes tcnicas de bordado.
ellas los hilos de urdimbre, logrando un efecto de acanalado The Reticular Weaving with a Triangular Base is a structural
en la vertical. technique prepared on the loom that is unique to the Andean
A Warp-Faced Weave is a woven structure derived from the pre-Hispanic cultures. The openwork is done by knotting the
Plain Weave, which is obtained by increasing the density of the weft around two warps at a time, in alternating alignment,
warp threads, leaving the weft threads hidden below them. A to form a triangular mesh. This reticular weave serves as the
ribbed effect is achieved on the horizontals. In the Weft-Faced support for different embroidering techniques.
Weave, in contrast, it is the weft threads that are given greater
density, hiding the warp threads beneath them, and producing
a ribbed effect on the verticals.

La Gasa Vuelta es una tcnica estructural tejida a telar en la que La Tapicera es una tcnica estructural derivada del tejido Faz
se cruzan o tuercen los hilos de urdimbre para lograr efectos de de Trama, lograda por el uso de hilos de trama discontinuos
calado. Los cruces son conservados por las pasadas de hilos de o que hacen recorridos parciales en el ancho del tejido. El
trama y deben ir alternando su direccin para evitar la torsin Ranurado se obtiene cuando las tramas discontinuas no se
de la superficie. enlazan entre s y se dejan varios hilos de urdimbre sin tomar,
Plain Gauze Weave is a structural technique woven on a loom los que al ser cortados y rematados, generan calados en la tela.
in which the warp threads are intercrossed and twisted to La Trama Excntrica es cuando los hilos de trama evaden la
achieve an openwork effect. The crossings are conserved during perpendicularidad de la relacin urdimbre-trama, y es usada
their passage through the weft when the threads alternate their para obtener lneas curvas y delinear formas.
direction to avoid any torsion on the surface. Tapestry is a structural technique derived from the Weft-Faced
Weave, achieved by the use of discontinuous weft threads that
only partially cross the width of the loom. Slit or openwork
tapestry is obtained when the discontinuous wefts are not
interwoven with themselves and leave several warp threads
unwoven, which when cut and trimmed, generate slits or
spaces in the cloth. An Eccentric Weft is achieved when the weft
threads purposefully evade the right angle warp/weft relation. It
is used to make curved lines and delineate shapes.

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The applications Las aplicaciones
Each of these corresponds to representative Todas ellas corresponden a tcnicas de
techniques of super-structural character, as representacin de carcter superestructural, ya que
they have been prepared separately and were se elaboran separadamente y son independientes
independent of the ground textile. Three types of de la tela soporte. Se distinguen tres tipos de
applications can be recognized, according to their aplicaciones, de acuerdo a sus formas y tcnicas de
forms and techniques of preparation: disks, tassels, confeccin: los discos, las borlas y los volmenes.
and volumes.
Los discos tejidos fueron realizados con ocho a
The woven discs were made using eight or nueve hilos de algodn como urdimbres, y tejidos
nine cotton threads as the warp, and woven in en faz de de trama con fibra de camlido. Para
weft-faced weave with camelids fiber. In order formar el disco a partir de un tejido plano, los
to form the disk on top of a plain weave, the extremos de cada urdimbre fueron amarrados entre
extremes of each warp were tied together and then s y luego tensados progresivamente hasta lograr
progressively made taut until they formed a circle. un crculo.

Disco tejido aplicado, anverso y


reverso. (Tomado de Brugnoli
et al. 1997: 17: Fig.8).
Applied woven disc, front
and back.

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The tassels were all made with camelids fiber and Las borlas fueron todas elaboradas con fibra de
dyed red. Basically, they were composed of a camlido teidas de color rojo. Bsicamente,
handful of threads that were folded and trimmed, comprenden un manojo de hilados doblados y
and then wrapped together at the base. According luego desflecados, que se fijaron embarrilando su
to the type of application and its location within base. Segn el tipo de aplicacin y su ubicacin
the decorative composition of the garment, we can en la composicin decorativa de las prendas, se
find single tassels or groups of them, simple, triple distinguen borlas nicas o en grupos, simples,
and more complex groupings. triples o complejas.
The single tassels, shaped in yellow, are the Las borlas simples, de embarrilado amarillo, son
foundation for different woven volumes. Triple las bases de algunos volmenes tejidos. Las borlas
tassels are located at the perimeters of the triples, se ubican en los permetros de los mdulos
rectangular modules, as well as at the borders rectangulares, as como en los bordes de las cruces
of the stepped crosses in the central design, and escalonadas del diseo central, fijadas al tejido con
are stitched to the weaving. The structure of the costura. Las borlas complejas, en cambio, estn
complex tassels, in contrast, is composed of groups compuestas en su base por grupos de borlas simples
of small single tassels and other simple tassels pequeas, otras simples de las cuales penden
from which hanging cords end in tassels with two cordoncillos que terminan en borlas de dos capas
layers of fringes and large tassels of two layers that de flecos y borlas grandes de dos capas que nacen
emerge at the center. The latter type can only be de su centro. Este ltimo tipo slo se encuentra en
found at the central sector of the short skirt of the el sector central del panel elaborado o faldelln del
breechcloth and has a more intense red than that of taparrabo y de un color rojo ms intenso que el de
the tassels on the other garments of the outfit. las borlas de las otras prendas del traje.

Borla simple. (Tomado de Borla compleja. (Tomado de


Brugnoli et al. 1997: 17, Fig.9). Brugnoli et al. 1997: 17, Fig.11).
A simple tassel. A complex tasssel.

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Woven volumes are present in each of the costumes Los volmenes tejidos estn presentes en todas las
garments, repeated with variations and distributed prendas del atuendo, repetidos con variaciones
in an organized manner across the weavings. They y distribudos organizadamente en el textil.
have been attached to the flat disks, as well as Han sido fijados tanto en los discos planos
to the thorax of the personages in profile on the como en el trax de los personajes de perfil del
support. Twelve types of woven volumes can be soporte. Se distinguen 12 tipos de volmenes que
identified. They represent phytomorphic motifs or representan motivos fitomorfos o plantas, de cierta
plants, and bear a certain similarity to the weaving correspondencia con las tcnicas textiles utilizadas
techniques used in the making of the garments, en su confeccin, tales como el embarrilado,
such as wrapping, cross-knit looping, winding, anillado, ovillado, trenzado plano, punto festn,
wind plain braiding, festoon stitching, sewing and costura y otras tcnicas empleadas para expresar
other techniques used to express the different las diferentes calidades texturales de los vegetales.
textural qualities of the plants. We can find, among Entre las especies representadas se encontraran
the species represented, florescence or capsules of florescencias o cpsulas de algodn, hojas y flores
cotton, leaves and flowers of unidentified tubers, de tubrculos no identificados, florescencias y
florescence and corn cobs (Zea mays) and possibly mazorcas de maz (Zea mays) y posiblemente hojas
coca leaves (Eritroxilum coca). de coca (Eritroxilum coca).

Glossary Glosario

El Embarrilado es la accin de envolver con aguja hilados u El Trenzado es una tcnica basada en el entrelazamiento de un
otros elementos, ya sea para engrosarlos, hacerlos ms largos sistema de tres o ms hilos de urdimbre. El trenzado es plano
o generar estructuras en volumen. cuando genera estructuras no volumtricas.
Wrapping is the action of wrapping together threads and other Braiding is a technique based on the intertwining of a system
elements with a needle, either to thicken them, make them of three or more warp threads. The braiding is plain when it
longer, or make structures with volume. generates flat structures or without any volume.

El Anillado Cruzado es una tcnica que se utiliza para realizar El Festn es una tcnica de bordado con aguja, comnmente
estructuras de malla, sobre la base de un solo elemento usado como terminacin o refuerzo de las orillas de textiles,
horizontal, cuyo enlace continuo conforma filas que generan que se logra por la sucesin en horizontal de densas puntadas
una superficie textil. Tambin es una tcnica de bordado con enlazadas sobre una superficie tejida.
aguja, utilizada como terminacin de orilla u ornamentacin The Festoon refers to a technique of needlepoint embroidery,
textil, as como para formar estructuras en volumen. often used as a finishing or to strengthen the borders of
Cross-Knit Looping is a technique that is used to make net-like textiles. It is achieved by applying a succession of thick
structures on the base of a single horizontal element, whose interlinking stitches to a woven surface in a horizontal
continuous links form rows that generate a textile surface. It direction.
is also a needle-based embroidery technique used to finish
borders or woven ornamentation, as well as a technique for
making structures with volume.

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The leaves and sepals of flowers were woven with Las hojas y spalos de flores fueron tejidas con
needles in a simple cross-knit looping, some with aguja en anillado simple, algunas con estructura
an internal structure. For the stalks and certain interior. En los tallos y en algunos estambres se
stamens, cotton thread was used, wrapped with usaron hilos de algodn, embarrilados con fibra de
camelids fiber. The flowers were made of plain camlido. Las flores se hicieron de trenzado plano
braid and festoon stitch on the ground and finished y punto festn sobre una estructura, rematadas con
with knotting. The capsules of the flowers were anudado. Las cpsulas de las flores se hicieron con
made with a cotton structure and wrappings stitch una estructura de algodn y puntada envolvente
of camelids fiber, while those of the fruit of certain de hilo de camlido y con tcnica de ovillado, los
plants employed the wind technique. frutos de algunas de las plantas.

Volumen tejido: Representacin Cpsulas de algodn blanco.


de cpsulas de algodn Capsules of white cotton.
(Tomado de Brugnoli et al.
1997: 18, Fig.16).
Volumetric weaving:
representation of cotton
capsules.

Volumen tejido: Representacin Volumen tejido: Representacin Volumen tejido: Representacin Volumen tejido: Representacin
de flores y hojas de tubrculo de vegetal no identificado con de flores de coca. (Tomado de de flores de maz. (Tomado de
no identificado. (Tomado de tcnica de ovillado. (Tomado de Brugnoli et al. 1997: 18, Fig.17). Brugnoli et al. 1997: 18, Fig.15).
Brugnoli et al. 1997: 18, Fig.12). Brugnoli et al. 1997: 18, Fig.23). Woven volume: representation Woven volume: representation
Woven volume: representation Woven volume: representation of coca flowers. of corn flowers.
of the leaves and flowers of an of an unidentified vegetable in
unidentified tuber. wind technique.

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The trimming Las terminaciones
The most important trimmings were the fringes, Las terminaciones ms importantes son las
located at the borders of the garments. These were flecaduras, ubicadas en los bordes de las prendas.
prepared independently on warps of cotton, then stas se realizaron de manera independiente sobre
woven with weft threads of camelids fiber and urdimbres de algodn y tejidas con hilos de trama
sewn onto the textile. Only one color was used, de camlido y luego cosidas al textil. Son de un solo
which could be yellow, ocher or red. On different color, ya sea amarillo, ocre o rojo. En las diferentes
garments, one could find of layered fringing, prendas se registran flecaduras en capas, unidas
stitched together, that are characteristic of Chim entre s por costura, que son caractersticas de los
textiles, or simple fringes made in the weft. Other tejidos Chim, o simples realizadas por trama.
trimmings correspond to the seams that join the Otras terminaciones corresponden a las costuras de
pieces of the garments with consecutively stitch, las uniones de los paos de las prendas con puntada
and the seam utilized to attach the different seguida, y a la costura utilizada en la fijacin de
components of the plant representations to the las diversas partes de las plantas a la tela que opera
textile that served as the ground. como soporte.

Assembling the costume La confeccin del traje


Each piece of the costume was made separately, Cada pieza del traje se elabor por separado,
following the Andean textile tradition of making siguiendo la tradicin textil andina de confeccionar
each component practically complete on the loom, los objetos prcticamente completos en el telar, sin
then giving the desired shape by means of folds and cortes, dndoles la forma deseada slo a travs de
seams. dobleces y costuras.
The turban El turbante
The turban was made of a long central strip Est constitudo por un largo pao central de 323
of cloth that was 323 centimeters long by 14 cm de largo por 14 cm de ancho, al que se unen
centimeters wide, to which two panels with the en cada extremo dos paneles que portan la misma
same decoration as the rest of the outfit were decoracin que el resto del atuendo, alcanzando
joined at each extreme. Together, the three pieces con ellos un largo total de 405 cm. El pao central
measured 405 centimeters in length. The central est tejido en ligamento tela balanceada, con
panel was woven in balanced plain weave with fine hilados finos de algodn caf oscuro que le d una
threads of dark coffee-colored cotton which gave textura liviana y flexible, acorde con su funcin
the cloth a light and flexible texture, in accord with envolvente de cabeza. Ambos extremos del pao
its function of wrapping the head. Both ends of the fueron fijados a los paneles decorados con costura,
cloth were attached to the decorative panels with sobreponindose a ellos por 70 cm.
seams, superimposed by 70 centimeters.

Terminacin: Flecadura por


trama, realizada en capas.
(Tomado de Brugnoli et al.
1997: 19, Fig.25).
Trimming: fringe of weft
threads, prepared in layers.

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Representacin del turbante
del traje. (Tomado de Brugnoli
et al. 1997:22).
Representation of the
costumes turban.

Turbante del traje, detalle


de los paneles elaborados.
(mchap 0962).
The costumes turban, detail
of decorated panels.

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The decorated panels measure 110 and 111 Los paneles decorados miden 110 y 111 cm cada
centimeters each, on a ground made in a reticular uno, con un soporte realizado en tejido reticular
weave with a triangular base and tapestry. anudado de base triangular y tapicera. Sobre
Tassels and woven volumes were attached to the esta ltima estructura se aplicaron las borlas y los
aforementioned structure. The garment has a two- volmenes tejidos. Tiene flecaduras en el borde
layered fringe of ocher and yellow color on the inferior de dos capas, en color ocre y amarillo,
lower border, similar to that used in the shirt and la misma empleada en la camisa y el faldelln del
the small skirt of the breechcloth. On the lateral taparrabo; en los bordes laterales, en cambio, lleva
borders, however, a simple red fringe was used. una flecadura simple de color rojo.
The tunic La camisa
The tunic was made in four parts: two larger La camisa fue confeccionada en cuatro partes: dos
rectangles for the body, each 36.5 by 91 rectngulos mayores para el cuerpo, de 36,5 por
centimeters, joined by a seam along the longer side, 91 cm, unidos por costura por su lado ms largo,
leaving openings for the neck and the arms; and dejando aberturas para el escote y las mangas; y
two smaller rectangles of 10.8 by 38 centimeters dos rectngulos menores de 10,8 por 38 cm para
for the sleeves, which were sewn to each side of the las mangas, que fueron cosidos a ambos costados
shirt. The textiles structures of the sleeves and the de la camisa. Las estructuras textiles de mangas y
body are different. A plain open weave was used cuerpo son distintas. En las mangas se utiliz el
for the sleeves in order to generate a structure of tejido plano abierto para generar una estructura de
square openwork framed by strips made in tapestry calados cuadrados enmarcados por listas realizadas
whose centers were filled with woven oval shapes en tapicera y llenados sus centros con valos
also done in tapestry, to which multiple tassels tejidos tambin en tapicera, a los que se fijaron
were attached. The ground of the body, on the mltiples borlas. El soporte del cuerpo, en cambio,
other hand, was made in a reticular weave with fue elaborado en tejido reticular anudado de base
a triangular base and tapestry, which defines the triangular y tapicera, el que define el espacio
orthogonal space where the module of the design ortogonal donde se inscribe el mdulo de diseo.
is registered The lower borders have three layers of Los bordes inferiores tienen tres capas de flecaduras
fringes with warps of ocher, yellow and red. por tramas en colores ocre, amarillo y rojo.
The making of the shirt followed a rigorous La confeccin de la camisa sigue una rigurosa
plan, since on preparing the left and right panel planificacin, pues al realizar los paos izquierdo
separately, the weavers were careful to maintain y derecho separadamente, los tejedores cuidaron
the symmetry of the iconographic composition, mantener la simetra de la composicin
determining the front and back with two perfectly- iconogrfica, determinando el frente y la espalda
matched pieces, coinciding at the shoulders. con sus marcos perfectamente calzados y
coincidentes con los hombros.

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Camisa del traje. (mchap 0960)
The costumes tunic.

Representacin de la camisa
desplegada. (Tomado de
Brugnoli et al. 1997: 26).
Representation of the tunic
unfolded.

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Taparrabo del traje,
detalle del faldelln elaborado.
(mchap 0961).
The costumes breechcloth,
detail of the decorated skirt.

Representacin del taparrabo


y faldelln. El sector en el centro
del faldelln, corresponde al
fragmento textil insertado con
posterioridad. (Tomado de
Brugnoli et al. 1997: 30).
Representation of the
breechcloth and skirt. The
darker sector at the center of the
skirt corresponds to the textile
fragment added at a later date.

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The breechcloth and its short skirt El taparrabo y su faldelln
This garment is the largest in size: 367 by 120.8 Esta prenda es la de mayores dimensiones: de 367
centimeters. It is composed of three parts joined por 120,8 cm. Se compone de tres partes unidas
by seams. The front of the breechcloth, which is por costura. El frente del taparrabos que es el
the short skirt, was sewn to a piece of cloth made faldelln est cosido a un pao realizado con
with fine thread of coffee-colored cotton in a plain hilados finos de algodn caf en tejido plano con
weave with paired warps. In this case, each passage urdimbres pareadas. Es decir, cada pasada de trama
of the weft takes two warps at a time. toma de a dos urdimbres a la vez.
The short skirt was made in the same manner as El faldelln se confeccion al igual que la camisa
the shirt and the panels with iconography of the y los paneles con iconografa del turbante,
turban, in contrast to the closed structure of the contraponiendo la estructura cerrada de la tapicera
tapestry and the transparency of the reticular y la transparente del tejido reticular, para generar
weave, to generate the design module that is el mdulo de diseo que se repite en el faldelln
repeated eight times in a horizontal direction ocho veces en el sentido horizontal y cuatro
and four in a vertical in the breechcloths skirt. en el vertical. Sobre el soporte se dispusieron
Applications were attached to the ground, las aplicaciones, siguiendo el mismo plan de
following the same plan of distribution used in the distribucin de las otras piezas del atuendo.
other pieces of the costume.
Esta prenda presenta una notoria alteracin,
This garment presented a notable difference, correspondiente a la insercin, en el centro del
however, which corresponded to the insertion faldelln, de un fragmento con tres de sus orillas
of a fragment with three of its borders trimmed cortadas. Aunque esta alteracin es fiel al estilo y
at the center of the short skirt. Although this tema del atuendo, difiere en varios aspectos, como
alteration remains faithful to the style and theme un color rojo ms intenso, un soporte transparente
of the garment, it differs from it in various aspects, realizado con tcnica de gasa vuelta, la ausencia
such as the more intense red color employed, a de representaciones volumtricas vegetales y la
transparent support made with a plain gauze weave, presencia de las nicas borlas complejas en todo el
the absence of volumetric representations of plants, vestuario. Todo esto sugiere que el fragmento no
and the presence of the only complex tassels in the perteneci originalmente a la prenda, pudiendo ser
entire costume. All of these details suggest that the parte de otro textil similar que los mismos tejedores
fragment did not belong originally to the garment, Chim usaron para repararlo. Otra posibilidad
perhaps being part of another similar textile that es que haya sido incorporado posteriormente por
the same Chim weavers had used to repair the modernos traficantes de antigedades para mejorar
skirt. Another possibility is that it could have su aspecto.
been incorporated at a later date by a clandestine
trafficker to improve its appearance.

39

capitulo2.indd 39 10/31/05 10:59:16 PM


A garden in the Un jardn en el
desert: a metaphor desierto: la metfora

The Importance of Ceremonial Dress in the Andes Importancia del traje en los Andes
Nothing was more appreciated or produced greater No hubo en los Andes otro objeto ms preciado
prestige in the Andean regions than ones manner y de mayor prestigio que la ropa. Nadie, ni
of dress. No one, not even the gods, could exist siquiera los dioses podan quedar sin vestuario.
without a wardrobe. The essence of identity linked Haba una identidad esencial entre la persona y
a person to his attire. Men generally dressed in a su atuendo. Los hombres generalmente vestan
long breechcloth and a woven tunic, folded and un gran taparrabo y una tnica confeccionada
sewn at the sides, with two openings for the arms, con una tela doblada y cosida a los lados, que
and another at the center for the head. The dress dejaba dos aberturas para los brazos y otra en el
for women, in contrast, was larger and longer than centro para pasar la cabeza. El traje de las mujeres,
that of the men. Women wrapped their bodies in a en cambio, era ms grande y largo que el de los
large rectangular piece of fabric that was tied above hombres. Rodeaban el cuerpo con una gran tela
the shoulders and girdled with a belt at the waist. rectangular, que amarraban sobre los hombros y
Female attire was completed with a shawl that was cean a la cintura con una faja. Completaba el
worn over the shoulders and joined in front by a atuendo femenino una manta que llevaban sobre
clasp. los hombros y cuyos extremos unan por delante
con un prendedor.
Many of the textiles that are found in museums
are outfits that were buried with their owners Muchos de los textiles que se hallan en los museos
as part of grave offerings or funerary attire, but son atuendos que fueron enterrados con sus

Vestimenta de un llamero Orejeras usadas comnmente


Recuay modelado en una por los dignatarios Chim
botella (mchap 0283). (mchap 2557 a y b).
Attire of a Recuay llama Earrings commonly used by
herdsman modeled on a Chim dignitaries.
ceramic vessel.

40

capitulo3.indd 40 10/31/05 11:31:25 PM


certain garments were made especially for dueos como parte de su ajuar u ofrenda
the deceased. In fact, all of the important mortuoria, pero algunas prendas fueron
moments in the life of a member of the hechas especialmente para el difunto. En
society were marked by the practice of realidad, todos los momentos importantes
giving or exchanging textiles. The practice en la vida de un sujeto estaban marcados
was used to designate and confirm the new por la prctica de regalar o intercambiar
status that an individual acquired upon textiles. Era una manera de designar y
reaching adulthood, on marriage, or at death. confirmar el nuevo estatus que adquira
Also, defeated enemies were given textiles la persona al pasar a la adultez, al casarse
to initiate a new relationship of peace, or as o al fallecer. Tambin se les regalaba a los
the sign of a new political alliance. Finally, derrotados para iniciar una relacin ms
large quantities of textiles were burned or pacfica o como signo de una nueva alianza
buried periodically, as offerings in the form of poltica. Por ltimo, grandes cantidades
sacrifices to the gods. de textiles eran peridicamente quemados
o enterrados como ofrendas a modo de
One of the basic functions of ritual clothing
sacrificio a los dioses.
was to serve as a visual emblem or insignia
of the individuals membership in a certain
Una de las funciones bsicas del atuendo
group. Brilliant, colorful, and highly
era servir como un emblema o insignia
significant designs gave the observer an
visual de la membresa de grupo del
immediate idea as to the ethnic identity and
individuo. Diseos brillantes, coloridos
other social and political characteristics of
y altamente significativos daban al
members of the society.
observador una idea inmediata acerca de
Arriba: Topu o prendedor la identidad tnica y otras caractersticas
utilizado por las mujeres Chim sociales y polticas de la gente con la que
(mchap 3320). se encontraban.
Above: Topu or large pin used
by Chim women.

Vestimenta de un personaje Vestimenta de un personaje


Moche representado en Nasca representado en una
una botella (mchap 2085). vasija (mchap 0285).
Attire of a Moche personage Attire of a Nasca personage
represented on a ceramic vessel. represented on a ceramic vessel.

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capitulo3.indd 41 11/3/05 3:53:51 PM


Dress and symbol Traje y smbolo
Clothing, in addition to complying with utilitarian Las vestimentas, adems de cumplir con
functions, such as protection from the cold or the funciones utilitarias, tal como proteger del fro
sun, was generally considered a privileged support o el sol, generalmente son un lugar privilegiado
on which to represent concepts and ideas. This para representar conceptos e ideas. sto es
was especially true in the case of ceremonial especialmente cierto en el caso de los trajes
garments, which were generally covered with ceremoniales, los cuales generalmente estn
symbols related to the person that used them and plagados de smbolos relativos a la persona que
the occasion for which they were destined. In los usan y al momento en que son utilizados. De
this manner, ceremonial dress served the purpose esta manera, el traje ceremonial tiene la propiedad
of investing the wearer with the political, social de investir simblicamente a su usuario del poder
and ideological power of the symbols that were poltico, social e ideolgico de los smbolos que en
represented in his dress. l estn representados.
This Chim costume is an excellent example Este traje o atuendo Chim es un excelente
of this symbolic function of ceremonial dress, ejemplo de esta funcin simblica de las
since the entire ceremonial costume is covered vestimentas ceremoniales, ya que todo l esta
with symbols that allude to features of Chim plagado de smbolos que aluden a aspectos de
ideology. These symbols join to create a metaphor la ideologa Chim. Estos smbolos se conjugan
in which agricultural fertility emanated from the para representar una metfora en la cual la
ceremonies at which the mummies of the ancestors fertilidad agrcola emana desde las construcciones
of leaders are venerated. These symbols speak of an ceremoniales donde eran veneradas las momias de
ideological relationship between the productivity los ancestros de los gobernantes. Estos smbolos
of the fields and the cult devoted to the dynasty in hablan de una vinculacin ideolgica entre la
power, materialized in rituals held at ceremonial productividad de los campos y el culto a la dinasta
centers controlled by the elite. In this way, whoever en el poder, la cual era materializada por medio de
wore the attire could incarnate in himself the power ritos realizados en centros ceremoniales que eran

Plantacin de algodn, uno de


los cultivos ms importantes en
la agricultura Chim.
A field of cotton, one of the
most important crops in Chim
agriculture.

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capitulo3.indd 42 11/3/05 3:54:09 PM


Turbante del traje ceremonial,
detalle de los paneles con diseos.
The ceremonial costumes
turban.

43

capitulo3.indd 43 11/11/05 11:18:52


44

capitulo3.indd 44 10/11/05 15:28:02


Camisa del traje ceremonial.
The ceremonial costumes tunic.

45

capitulo3.indd 45 10/11/05 15:28:26


to assure the propagation of a society based on controlados por la lite. De esta manera, quien
agriculture, in spite of being located in the middle utiliz esta vestimenta encarn en s el poder de
of a desert and, paradoxically, battered recurrently asegurar la reproduccin de una sociedad basada
by destructive flooding provoked by the global en la agricultura, pero ubicada en medio de un
phenomenon of the Nio current. territorio desrtico y, paradojalmente, golpeado
recurrentemente por destructivas inundaciones
provocadas por el fenmeno global de la corriente
de El Nio.

Representacin de la forma
en que se debi utilizar el traje
ceremonial (Dibujo, Jos Prez
de Arce).
Representation of the form in
which the ceremonial costume
should be worn.

Taparrabo del traje,


faldelln en detalle (orientar
horizontalmente).
The ceremonial costumes skirt.

46

capitulo3.indd 46 11/11/05 11:53:26


47

capitulo3.indd 47 8/11/05 15:09:00


Symbolic density La densidad simblica
This Chim ceremonial outfit is composed of Este traje ceremonial Chim est compuesto de
various superimposed layers of symbols. The varias capas sobrepuestas de smbolos. La primera
first can be found in the structure of the ground est constituda por parte de la estructura del
fabric, which was made in a way that produced a tejido base, la que fue confeccionada de manera de
transparent effect. The second layer corresponds lograr un efecto de transparencia. La segunda capa
to the varied geometric and anthropomorphic corresponde a los variados diseos geomtricos y
designs integrated into the ground. Finally, the antropomorfos realizados tambin en la estructura
third layer is made up of three-dimensional vegetal base. Por ltimo, una tercera capa est compuesta
representations applied to the plain weave. Beyond por representaciones vegetales tridimensionales
these three layers, the color and the shape of the aplicadas sobre el tejido base. Ms all de estas
outfit and, certainly, the way in which the user capas, el color, la forma del traje y, seguramente, la
wore the outfit, constituted various additional manera en que su usuario lo portaba, constituyen
layers of symbolic representation. varios niveles ms de contenido simblico que este
traje representaba.
Esta densidad de informacin significaba que
algunos smbolos representados eran fcilmente
reconocibles por quienes asistieron a las ceremonias
en que se utiliz el traje, mientras que otros
fueron efectivos en la medida en que los asistentes
conocan de su existencia, pese a no verlos.

Tercera capa:
Representacin de vegetales.
Third layer:
Representation of vegetables.

Segunda capa:
Diseos antropomorfos
y geomtricos.
Second layer:
Anthropomorphic and
geometric designs.
Las tres capas de smbolos
que componen la metfora
representada en el traje Primera capa:
ceremonial Chim. (Adaptado Transparencia.
de Brugnoli et al. 1997:15). First layer:
The three layers of symbols Transparency.
that compose the metaphor
represented in the Chim
ceremonial costume.

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The ground: transparency La base: la transparencia
The ground of the costume is a plain weave, made La base de este atuendo es un tejido plano, parte de
in part with the objective of achieving transparency. la cual fue realizado con el fin de conseguir la trans-
This property, which permitted seeing through a parencia. Esta propiedad, que permite que se vea lo
solid surface, was, apparently, central to Chim que est atrs de un espacio cerrado, aparentemente,
ideology. In this ceremonial outfit, transparency fue central para la ideologa Chim. En este traje
was designed to permit those in its presence to ceremonial, la transparencia debi permitir a la
be able to surmise what was within it, whether concurrencia entrever lo que estaba bajo l, ya fuera
it was the skin of the wearer or another garment la piel de la persona u otra prenda que sta utilizara
worn beneath the tunic. Following the same line, bajo el traje. Con la misma idea, la construccin de
the construction of Chim ceremonial centers, los centros ceremoniales Chim, lugares que tenan
structures that had very limited access, were un acceso muy restringido, muchas veces incluyen
often made of walls that, in spite of being solid, muros que, pese a ser slidos, incluyen sectores en
included sections in which the adobe bricks were que los adobes se dispusieron de manera tal, que
eliminated to permit seeing the inside, repeating permitan ver hacia el interior, repitiendo as la idea
the idea of glimpsing what was occurring in the de entrever lo que esta detrs del espacio confinado
spaces enclosed by the walls. Surprisingly, part of por los muros. De manera sorprendente, parte del
the outfits ground weaving is made with triangular tejido base de este atuendo est confeccionado con
netting, which is similar in design to that found in un reticulado de base triangular, que es el mismo
the adobe architecture. que se aprecia en la arquitectura de adobes.

Muros reticulados romboidales


del la ciudadela Tschudi de
Chan Chan.
Romboidal reticulated walls
at the Tschudi Compound in
Chan Chan.

Textil con retculas Chim con


la representacin de un pelcano,
el gran cosechador del mar
(mchap 0406).
Chim textile with reticulated
spaces or openwork, with the
representation of a pelican, the
great harvester of the sea.

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The transparent, net-like ground of the outfit may La base reticulada y transparente del traje tambin
also refer to another idea that was important to the parece hacer referencia a otra idea importante entre
Chim: fishing nets. It may be suggested that in the los Chim: las redes de pesca. Puede sugerirse
ideology of this society, the nets represented the que en la ideologa de esta sociedad, las redes
capacity of the sea on Perus north coast to supply representaban la capacidad del mar de la costa norte
food, a blessing that was invoked in order to give del Per de ser abundante proveedor de alimentos,
fertility to the farm land of a community that lived propiedad que era invocada para que fuera efectiva
in the middle of an arid desert. Thus, the symbols en los campos agrcolas de esta sociedad que vivi
associated with nets were apparently based on en medio de un rido desierto. As, los smbolos
an aspiration to transfer the fertility of the sea by asociados a las redes, aparentemente fueron un
means of symbols to the societys cultivated land, intento por transferir simblicamente la fertilidad
the marine harvest to the terrestrial harvest. del mar a los campos de cultivo, la cosecha
marina a la cosecha terrestre.

Tejido reticulado triangular


(Dibujo de Brugnoli et al.
1997:16 Fig. 3).
El cuadriculado fino que se
aprecia de fondo corresponde
a una tela puesta con fines de
conservacin.
Triangular reticular weave.

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capitulo3.indd 50 10/11/05 12:48:25


Plain designs: the ceremonial center Diseos planos: el centro ceremonial
The geometric and anthropomorphic motifs found Los motivos geomtricos y antropomorfos
on the plain weaving refer to several associated realizados sobre el tejido plano hacen referencia
symbolic contents, basically, the representation a varios contenidos simblicos asociados,
of ritual ceremonies to an ancestral cult, which bsicamente, a la representacin del poder de los
were conducted and controlled by the elite. These ceremoniales de culto a los antepasados, dirigidos
representations were organized within rectangular y controlados por la lite. Estas representaciones
modules that were repeated horizontally, with estn organizadas dentro de mdulos rectangulares
minor modifications, on the woven textiles. In que se repiten con pequeas modificaciones a
the case of the ceremonial centers, however, they lo ancho del traje, pero que estn compuestos
were composed of four basic symbols: walls with de cuatro smbolos bsicos: muros calados que
perforations that separate the central space from segregan un espacio central y cuatro espacios ms
pequeos; una cruz escalonada en el centro del

Mdulo de la iconografa que


representa el centro ceremonial
(Dibujo de Brugnoli et al. 1997:
34 Fig.26).
Module of the iconography that
represents the ceremonial center.

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four smaller spaces; a stepped cross in the middle espacio central; personajes de perfil con un cetro
of the central space; profiles of personages with en la mano, cuatro de ellos ubicados en el espacio
a staff in one hand, four of them located in the central y en dos de los espacios menores y crculos
central space and two in the smaller spaces; and dobles localizados en uno de los espacios ms
two concentric circles located in one of the smaller pequeos.
spaces.
Los gruesos muros calados, la forma rectangular
The thick, perforated walls, the rectangular form que delimitan y las subdivisiones hacen referencia
that marks their limits, and the subdivisions refer to a las magnficas construcciones de adobe Chim,
the magnificent Chim buildings in adobe, behind tras las cuales se realizaban los ceremoniales que
whose walls the elite performed the ceremonies aseguraban la fertilidad de los campos. Estos
that guaranteed the fertility of the fields. The ritos tenan como centro a un fardo que contena
rituals revolved around a mummy bundle which a la momia de un gobernante, el cual estara
contained the remains of a deceased ruler, who was representado aqu con el smbolo de la cruz de
represented here with the symbol of a cross with lados escalerados, que parece hacer referencia al

Personaje de perfil con cetro en


las manos y turbante (Dibujo
de Brugnoli et al. 1997:35).
Personage in profile with staff in
hand and turban with attached
decorations.

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capitulo3.indd 52 10/11/05 12:53:16


Textil Chim donde se aprecia la misma configuracin
del modulo central del traje: un personaje central
rodeado de cuatro personajes secundarios (mchap
0408).
Chim textile with the same configuration as the
central module of the costume: a central personage
surrounded by four secondary personages.

La cruz de lados escalerados,


representacin del fardo
funerario (Dibujo de Brugnoli
et al. 1997:35 Fig. 28).
The cross with stepped sides,
representation of a grave
bundle.

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stepped sides, which refers to the unku or shirt of unku o camisa de los Seores, comn en muchas
the Lords, common to many Andean cultures. The de las culturas andinas. Estos ceremoniales seran
ceremonial rituals were officiated and directed by oficiados y dirigidos por miembros de la dinasta
members of the dynasty that descended from the descendiente del difunto, quienes ostentaran el
deceased, who flaunted the political and religious poder poltico y religioso en esta sociedad y que
power in their society and could be represented in podran estar representados en el atuendo como
their garments with personages who carried a staff personajes que portan un cetro en la mano, como
in their hand, as a sign of their investiture. The final seal de su envestidura. El ltimo smbolo, el doble
symbol, the two concentric circles, is commonly crculo concntrico, comnmente se asocia en los
associated in the Andean region with springs Andes a las fuentes de agua, desde donde fluye la
of water, upon which the fertility of the fields fertilidad de los campos.
depended.
Significativamente, este conjunto indumentario
This ritual outfit, significantly, corresponds se corresponde bastante bien con parte de la
quite closely to part of the basic structure of the estructura bsica de los centros ceremoniales de la
ciudad Chim de Chan Chan, los cuales incluyen

Crculo que representara a


los estanques de agua (Dibujo
tomado de Brugnoli et al. 1997
Circle that represents water
tanks.

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capitulo3.indd 54 10/11/05 12:52:40


ceremonial centers in the Chim city of Chan espacios amplios donde se realizaban los festejos
Chan, which included large spaces where massive masivos en torno a las momias, espacios ms
celebrations were held to render homage to pequeos donde se realizaban rituales ms privados,
mummified deceased leaders, smaller spaces where algunos llamados audiencias, y otros donde se
more private ceremonies were performed, some of encontraban estanques de agua ceremoniales.
them called hearings or tribunals (audiencias),
and others where ceremonial waters were stored.

Plaza ceremonial principal de la ciudadela


Tschudi de Chan Chan.
Main ceremonial plaza at the Tschudi
Compound in Chan Chan.

Plaza ceremonial secundaria de la ciudadela


Tschudi de Chan Chan.
Secondary ceremonial plaza at the Tschudi
Compound in Chan Chan.

Esquema de la complejidad ortogonal de una


de las ciudadelas de Chan Chan (Tomado de
Ravines 1980:52).
Diagram of the orthogonal complexity of one of the
compounds at Chan Chan.
Audiencias o recintos ceremoniales ms pequeos
donde se realizaban ritos en torno a las momias
en Tschudi (Chan Chan).
Audiencias, or smaller ceremonial enclosures,
where rituals dedicated to mummies were held at
Tschudi (Chan Chan).

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Volumetric motifs: the agricultural explosion Los motivos volumtricos: la explosin agrcola
The composition of the metaphor represented in La composicin de la metfora representada en
this Chim costume forced weavers to produce este traje Chim hizo necesario que los tejedores
an unusual kind of weave on the ground of a realizaran un muy poco comn tipo de tejido sobre
plain woven fabric: motifs in volume of different la base de una tela plana; motivos en volumen de
compositions that represented common vegetables distintas composiciones que representan vegetales
that grew in the Andean region, in some cases, habituales en los campos agrcolas de los Andes, en
recognizable by their leaves, flowers or fruits. algunos casos reconocibles por sus hojas, sus flores
By means of comparative studies, it is possible o sus frutos. A partir de un estudio comparativo
to identify groupings composed of flowers and es posible identificar conjuntos compuestos por
leaves of tubers, capsules of cotton, and flowers flores y hojas de tubrculos, cpsulas de algodn
or corn cobs. Together with these compositions, y flores o mazorcas de maz. Juntos con estas
other groupings can be found which evidently composiciones se encuentran otros conjuntos que
refer to vegetable motifs, although it has not been evidentemente se refieren a motivos vegetales,

Hojas y flores de tubrculos Cpsulas de algodn (Tomado


(Tomado de Brugnoli et al. de Brugnoli et al. 1997:42).
1997:42). Cotton capsules.
Leaves and flowers of tubers.

Distintos tipos de flores y hojas


no identificadas (Tomado de
Brugnoli et al. 1997:42).
Different types of unidentified
flowers and leaves.

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possible to identify the species from the material vegetales, aunque no ha sido posible reconocer en
at hand, in spite of the fact that they were certainly ellos rasgos que permitan identificar su especie, pese
recognizable to the weavers who made the textiles. a que seguramente eran reconocibles para quienes
realizaron esta obra.
This textile garden was made in part by following a
concise plan, since certain types of representations Este jardn textil fue elaborado siguiendo en parte
can only be found at specific locations on the un claro patrn, ya que determinados tipos de
garments. By observing the placement of the representaciones se encuentran slo en ciertos
personages with staffs in smaller spaces and that lugares de las prendas. Por ejemplo, desde los
of the double concentric circles, it is possible to personajes con cetros ubicados en los espacios
observe unique arrangements of leaves and flowers menores y desde los dobles crculos concntricos es
of tubers, in combinations that do not appear in posible ver emerger nicamente arreglos de hojas
other areas of the weavings. y flores de tubrculos, combinaciones que no se
aprecian en otras partes del tejido.

Flores de coca (Tomado de Mazorca de maz y otras


Brugnoli et al. 1997:42). representaciones no identificadas
Coca flowers. (Tomado de Brugnoli et al.
1997:42).
Corn cob and other unidentified
representations.

Flores masculinas de maz


(Tomado de Brugnoli et al.
1997:42).
Male corn flowers.

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capitulo3.indd 57 10/31/05 11:44:30 PM


The remaining mysteries Los misterios remanentes
The interpretation that we present here on the La interpretacin aqu presentada sobre el
significance of the complex iconography of this significado de la compleja iconografa de este
Chim costume offers a partial overview of the atuendo Chim, cubre slo algunos de los aspectos
multiple facets of the works rich complexity. The de la rica complejidad de esta obra. Tal vez se
analysis, perhaps, gives a general idea of what was trate solamente de la idea general que se pretenda
intended to be transmitted by the iconography. transmitir por medio de la iconografa. Quedan,
Many aspects remain for which, of course, there por supuesto, muchos aspectos para los cuales no es
is no adequate interpretation available at this time. posible realizar confiablemente una interpretacin
Some cases, however, present patterns that can be contrastable con otras evidencias, aunque algunos
considered to insinuate possible readings. Among presentan patrones que resultan insinuantes. Entre
these, we could consider the configuration of the stos destaca la configuracin de los colores y las
colors and the differences between the personages diferencias entre los personajes con cetros.
with staffs.

Cruces de lados escalerados que presentan una


alternacin del color blanco y rojo en su reborde
(Dibujo de Brugnoli et al. 1997:39a).
Crosses with stepped sides that present alternating
red and white patterns on the rim.

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The distribution of the colors presents patterns La distribucin de los colores presenta patrones
that are difficult to interpret, although there is difciles de interpretar, aunque hay al menos
at least one composition that is quite common una composicin que es bastante comn en los
to the Andean region. The colors at the stepped Andes. Los colores de las cruces escalonadas se
crosses are designed alternately in red and white, disearon alternadamente en rojo y blanco, lo
which could be related to the ideas of duality que podra relacionarse con la idea de dualidad
that was common throughout the region. This ampliamente extendida en los Andes. Esta nocin
notion was especially important in political era especialmente importante en la organizacin
and social organization, since the society was social y poltica, ya que normalmente la sociedad
normally divided in two parts and directed by estaba dividida en dos partes y dirigida por
two sets of authorities who shared the power. The dos autoridades que compartan el poder. La
iconographic presence of the duality in the stepped presencia iconogrfica de la dualidad en las cruces
crosses, that we suppose represented the mummies escalonadas, que suponemos que representara a
of ancient rulers, could be signaling the dual las momias de antiguos gobernantes, podra estar
authority in the Chim government. destacando, entonces, la autoridad dual en Chim.

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capitulo3.indd 59 10/11/05 12:53:45


The personages with staffs, that we interpret here Los personajes con cetros, que aqu interpretamos
as officiating rituals involving the mummies of their como los oficiantes de los ritos en torno a las
ancestors, present a complex configuration in their momias de los antepasados, presentan una compleja
orientations. The personages related to the stepped configuracin de sus orientaciones. Los personajes
cross look in the opposite direction of the cross and en torno a la cruz escalonada miran en direccin
the personages in the rectangle adjacent to the circle contraria a ella y los personajes en el rectngulo
alternate their glance toward it or in the opposite vecino al crculo alternan su mirada hacia l o en
direction. At the same time, while in some of the direccin opuesta. A la vez, mientras en algunos
personages, the torso and the feet seem to point in personajes el torso y los pies parecen ir en la misma
the same direction, in others these elements diverge. direccin, en otros estos elementos divergen.
This pattern suggests the idea that the personages Este patrn sugiere la idea de que los personajes

Personajes con distintas orientaciones que sugieren


movimiento (Tomado de Brugnoli et al. 1997:39a).
Personages with different orientations suggesting
movement.

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with staffs are actually in movement, which would con cetros estn en movimiento, lo que sera
be coherent with the rituals in Andean ceremonies, coherente con los ceremoniales andinos, donde las
where processions and dances are common. procesiones y los bailes son comunes.
Other characteristics, especially the singular Otras caractersticas, especialmente la particular
distribution of the three-dimensional vegetables, distribucin de los vegetales tridimensionales,
contain structures or codes that are impossible to contienen estructuras o cdigos que por ahora no
interpret at this moment. es posible interpretar.

Personajes con distintas orientaciones que sugieren


movimiento presentes nicamente en mdulo central
del faldelln (Tomado de Brugnoli et al. 1997:39a).
Personages with different orientations suggesting
movement present only on the central Module
of the Skirt.

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Challenges Desafos
in Preparing expositivos
the Exhibition

Background of the exhibition Antecedentes para la exhibicin


Over the years, the Museo Chileno de Arte A lo largo de su trayectoria, el Museo Chileno
Precolombino has succeeded in putting together de Arte Precolombino ha logrado reunir una
an important collection of pre-Columbian textiles importante coleccin de textiles precolombinos,
of great aesthetic and patrimonial value. The de gran valor esttico y patrimonial. La mayora
majority of these pieces were discovered along de ellos provienen de la costa rida de los
the arid coast of the Andes, where the climate Andes, cuyo clima ha permitido una asombrosa
permitted an astonishing degree of preservation preservacin de fibras, tejidos y colores. Aun as,
of fibers, weavings and colors. Time and usage, as el tiempo y su historia de uso, manipulacin y
well as handling and transport, however, have made traslados los han vuelto frgiles y vulnerables, por
these textiles fragile and vulnerable. Our institution lo que nuestra institucin se ha preocupado de
has taken the utmost care to provide these artworks darles las mejores condiciones de conservacin, de
with the best possible conditions of conservation, acuerdo a sus caractersticas.
according to the specific characteristics of each
Es nuestra obligacin procurar que el lugar donde
one of them.
se almacenan o se exhiben, cumpla con estrictas
We feel that it is our obligation to insure that the condiciones necesarias para evitar que su deterioro
space where these works are stored or exhibited avance y as permitir que estas telas sean apreciadas
complies with the strictest conditions needed to y estudiadas por las futuras generaciones. Para
avoid any further deterioration, and thus permit su ptimo resguardo, los textiles precolombinos
that these textiles can be appreciated and studied requieren de un ambiente libre de contaminantes,
by future generations. For optimal safekeeping, bajos niveles de luz, una humedad relativa estable y
pre-Columbian textiles require an environment una temperatura cuidadosamente controlada.
free from contamination, with low levels of light,
Depsito y exhibicin: conservar para mostrar
stable relative humidity and carefully controlled
Actualmente, slo algunos de los textiles de la
temperature.
coleccin del museo se encuentran en exhibicin.
Storage and exhibition: Un gran porcentaje de ellos est en nuestros
conservation and presentation depsitos, que han sido acondicionados para
At the present moment, not all of the textiles in controlar ajustadamente los posibles riesgos de
the Museums collection are on exhibit. A large deterioro. Los textiles se guardan en posicin
percentage of them are in our storage vaults, which horizontal, envueltos con materiales libres de cido
have been conditioned to provide adequate control y slo se iluminan cuando se efectan monitoreos
against all possible risks of deterioration. The de rutina o se estudian.
textiles are kept in a horizontal position, wrapped

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in acid-free materials, and only illuminated when Las condiciones ptimas de resguardo que genera
they are routinely monitored or studied. un depsito bien controlado, han facilitado la
documentacin, el estudio y la investigacin
The optimal conditions of safekeeping that
en torno a nuestras colecciones. Es uno de los
accompany a properly controlled storage area
objetivos de este museo, adems, el promover
have facilitated the documentation, study and
y apoyar las iniciativas que puedan valorizar la
investigation of our collections. That is one of the
coleccin como patrimonio y cada pieza como
objectives of the museum. In addition to promote
una obra de arte en su contexto cultural. Es as,
and support the initiatives that can increase the
entonces, que nuestra coleccin textil y su rigurosa
patrimonial value of the collection and place each
conservacin, ha generado el inters de diversos
piece as a work of art within its cultural framework.
profesionales que, con distintas especialidades,
It is for these reasons that our collection with its
han acudido a nuestros depsitos y han hecho
rigorous conservation has generated the interest
importantes contribuciones a nuestro trabajo.
of numerous professionals of many different
specialities, have visited our storage area and have Estas investigaciones nos han permitido corroborar,
made important contributions in advancing our por ejemplo, que uno de los factores que influye
work. directamente en el deterioro de un textil y que
puede variar enormemente entre un depsito y
These collaborations have allowed us to
una sala de exhibicin, es la luz. Como una manera
corroborate, for example, that light is one of the
de armonizar las condiciones de conservacin
factors that directly influences the deterioration of
ptimas del depsito con los criterios de diseo
a textile and that may be adjusted in the handling of
y museografa de una exhibicin, en 1993
spaces between the storage area and the exhibition.
inauguramos nuevas instalaciones para exhibir los
As a manner of harmonizing all the conditions of
textiles de nuestra coleccin.
optimal conservation in the storage area with the
criteria of design and preparation of exhibitions,
we inaugurated new installations in 1993 to show
textiles from our collection.

Primeras imgenes del atuendo,


tomadas para su registro en el
catlogo de las 1000 primeras
piezas de la coleccin del museo.
The first images of the costume,
taken for the catalog of the first
1,000 pieces in the Museums
collection.

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The Textile Room twelve years ago Sala textil: hace doce aos
The inauguration of the Textile Room was the La inauguracin de la Sala Textil represent un
result of an effort unique in Latin America. Strict esfuerzo indito en Latinoamrica por conciliar
conservation criteria had to be reconciled with a los criterios ms estrictos de conservacin con
concept of installation that privileged the aesthetic, una concepcin museogrfica que privilegia lo
while ensuring a certain culturally-oriented esttico, sin desatender el rigor de un cierto orden
chronological order. This new room introduced cronolgico cultural. Esta sala introdujo
the concept of a space designed exclusively for the el concepto de un espacio diseado especialmente
appreciation of a specific artistic medium, such as para apreciar un determinado medio artstico,
these textiles, enriching a circuit which, until then, como son los textiles, enriqueciendo un circuito
had been conceived as a homogenous unit. que hasta ese momento se conceba como una
unidad homognea.
Thanks to a donation by the Japan Foundation
(Fundacin Japn), the Andes Foundation Gracias a una donacin de la Fundacin Japn,
(Fundacin Andes) and the Municipalidad de la Fundacin Andes y la Ilustre Municipalidad
Santiago, we were given the opportunity to de Santiago, nuestro museo tuvo la posibilidad
establish controls for humidity and temperature

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throughout the Museum. We built new showcases de climatizar todas sus dependencias y construir
with materials that provided an acid-free nuevas vitrinas con materiales que proporcionan
environment, facilitating the permanent exhibition un ambiente libre de cidos y que permiten exhibir
of textiles in conditions almost as ideal as those of los textiles de manera permanente, en un entorno
the storage area, but with the benefit of adequate casi tan controlado como el que se logra en un buen
illumination and distribution designed for the depsito, pero con una iluminacin y disposicin
publics appreciation. adecuadas para la apreciacin del pblico.
The design of the room eliminated all natural light El diseo de esta sala permiti aislarla totalmente
to avoid any ultraviolet radiation. In addition, the de la luz natural para evitar la radiacin ultravioleta.
incandescent lighting was installed at the maximum Junto con ello, los focos de luz incandescente
distance possible from the showcases. The se instalaron a la mayor distancia posible de las
fluorescent tubes in the showcases were installed vitrinas y los tubos fluorescentes interiores se
with filters, to diminish any irradiation of heat that instalaron con filtros, para disminuir la irradiacin
could affect the textiles. de calor sobre los textiles.

Inauguracin Sala Textil, 1993.


Inauguration of the Textile Room, 1993.

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The history of the restoration Historia de la restauracin del traje Chim
of the Chim ceremonial costume A mediados de 1982, la restauradora del museo,
In mid-1982, the Museums restorer, rica Ramrez, Erica Ramrez, comienza la labor de restaurar
began to work on the Chim ceremonial costume. el atuendo Chim. Empieza por la camisa y, a
She began with the tunic and, as the process continuacin, mientras trabaja en el taparrabo-
continued, while she was restoring the breechcloth faldelln, se le suma Luis Solar, con quien
with its short skirt, Luis Solar, joined the project, to terminarn la restauracin de las tres piezas durante
work on the turban. The two restorers completed los primeros meses de 1984.
the restoration of the three pieces in early 1984.
Uno de los objetivos de la restauracin era proteger
One of the objectives of the restoration was el tejido del soporte del traje, dndole mayor
to protect the costumes ground textile by sustentacin. Usualmente, se utiliza tela de algodn
strengthening its structure. In most cases, cotton para fijar los textiles por detrs, pero dado que la
cloth was used to support the textile from behind, mayor parte del tejido del soporte es transparente,
but given the situation that the larger part of se opt por utilizar crepelina de seda, una tela muy
the ground of the weaving was transparent, the fina y traslcida, sin embargo, firme y flexible.
restorers opted for using a silk crepeline, an
Lo primero que se hace, entonces, es cortar la
extremely fine and translucent cloth, which was, at
crepelina con la forma de la camisa, y de los paneles
the same time, both firm and flexible.
decorados del taparrabo y del turbante, para luego
The first step was to cut the crepeline in the shape afirmarla horizontal y verticalmente a cada una de
of the tunic and the two decorated panels of the las piezas. Una vez fijado el textil precolombino
breechcloth and the turban. The crepeline was then al soporte de tela, se fueron cosiendo una a una
fixed horizontally and vertically to each one of the las aplicaciones volumtricas, afirmando las que
textiles. Once the pre-Columbian pieces were fixed

Detalle de las puntadas aplicadas


en la restauracin del faldelln.
Detail of the stitches applied in
the restoration of the skirt.

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to the supporting cloth, each of the volumetric estaban sueltas donde haba indicios de su posicin
applications was sewn one by one to the surface, original. Todo el trabajo de costura se realiz con
attaching loose ones in places where it was obvious hilos de seda teidos algunos obtenidos de la
that they were missing. The sewing was done with misma crepelina, con hilos finos de algodn y
dyed silk thread some taken from the crepeline tambin con pelo humano, dada su gran resistencia.
itself as well as with fine cotton thread and human
El faldelln del taparrabo se arregl en forma
hair, chosen for its resistance.
vertical, sobre un bastidor en un atril a la altura
The short skirt of the breechcloth was spread out de los restauradores, quienes se ubicaron sentados
vertically on a stretcher and then placed on an frente a ambas caras. As fueron afirmando el
easel at a comfortable height for the restorers, who tejido a la crepelina, controlando la cada de la
were seated face to face, each with access to one tela y cuidando que no quedaran arrugas. Las
of the sides. In this way, they were able to affix otras piezas fueron restauradas horizontalmente,
the weaving to the crepeline, control the textiles tensando la crepelina sobre un marco de madera
fall, and carefully remove any wrinkles. The other y levantndolo en cada esquina con tacos, para
pieces were restored horizontally, stretching the poder introducir las manos por debajo. Segn
crepeline over a wooden frame, then raising the recuerdan los restauradores, lo ms rpido y simple
four corners with wedges, to enable to the restorers fue el turbante, en cambio el faldelln implic
to introduce their hands beneath the stretcher. The un trabajo mucho mayor, que incluso, en ciertos
restoration team recalls that the turban took less momentos, requiri de cuatro personas trabajando
time and effort to restore than the other pieces. The simultneamente.
short skirt, in contrast, demanded far more work, at
times requiring four people simultaneously.

rica Ramrez y Luis Solar


restaurando el traje en 1982.
rika Ramrez and Luis Solar
restoring the costume in 1982.

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The history of the exhibitions Historia de las exhibiciones del traje Chim
of the Chim ceremonial costume El atuendo Chim ha estado en depsito la
The Chim ceremonial costume has been in storage mayor parte del tiempo, exhibindose en dos
for most of the time it has been in the collection. perodos distintos y por no ms de tres aos en
It has been exhibited twice, for less than three total. La primera vez fue en 1984, en el marco de
years in total. The first time was in 1984, as part la exposicin Trajes y Joyas del Antiguo Per,
of an exhibit titled Trajes y Joyas del Antiguo muestra que consisti en una seleccin de objetos
Per, a show based on a selection of gold objects de oro y tejidos del Museo del Oro del Per,
and textiles from the Museo de Oro del Per, complementada con algunas piezas de la coleccin
complemented by a number of pieces from the del museo. El traje, recin restaurado, se exhibi
Museums collection. The costume, then recently durante un corto tiempo en una vitrina de muro,
restored, was exhibited for a short time in a wall en forma vertical y sin soporte. La iluminacin que
showcase, hanging vertically without support. The reciba era de los focos exteriores a la vitrina, pero
lighting that illuminated the costume came from la ltima semana se elimin la luz sobre la vitrina
the exterior of the showcase, but during the last porque se observ que la iluminacin era parcial, lo
week of the exhibit, the lights over the showcase que generaba manchas y poda daar el textil.
were removed, because they only partially lighted
La segunda exposicin en la que se le incluy, fue
the costume, generating shadows whose non
en la apertura de la Sala Textil en 1993 como parte
uniformities might damage the textile.
de la muestra permanente del museo, en la que
The costume was exhibited for the second time estuvo hasta mediados de 1996. En esta ocasin,
when the Textile Room was inaugurated in 1993, la vitrina contaba con iluminacin desde los focos
as part of the Museums permanent collection. It del exterior y adems con iluminacin cenital
remained on exhibit until the middle of 1996. At difundida, lo que eliminaba las manchas de luz en
that time, the showcase was illuminated by exterior el textil. Se utiliz un montaje similar al que se est
spotlights and diffused overhead lighting, which usando actualmente, sin embargo, se ha aumentado
eliminated any shadowing on the textiles. The el volumen que ocupa la vitrina, ahora el atuendo
mounting of the costume was similar to that used puede ser visto desde todos los ngulos, una
today, but the volume that the costume displaced novedad, considerando que el traje slo se haba
within the showcase has increased, due to allowing podido apreciar frontalmente.
the costume to command greater visibility from all
angles. Before, there was only a frontal view.

Exposicin Trajes y Joyas del


Antiguo Per, 1984.
Costumes and Jewelry of
Ancient Peru exhibition, 1984.

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Interdisciplinary responsibilities: Different visions Trabajo interdisciplinario:
With the passage of time, our exhibitions of textiles Un objetivo, distintas miradas
have been adapted to levels and characteristics of Con el correr del tiempo, nuestra exhibicin de
lighting that are more adequate for conserving textiles ha ido ajustando los niveles y caractersticas
these delicate artworks. We attempt to replicate lumnicas para preservar los textiles en exhibicin,
the optimal conditions of conservation found in tratando de imitar las condiciones ptimas de
the storage area. In this sense, the careful study conservacin que presenta un depsito. En
and application of lighting systems that permits este sentido, el detallado estudio del sistema
us to exhibit the Chim costume today, has given de iluminacin que hoy permite la exhibicin
us much greater possibilities, even though each del atuendo Chim, si bien es especfico para
situation requires different solutions. We plan to este caso, tiene alcances mucho mayores. Esta
apply the results of these complex investigations compleja investigacin ser luego aplicada al
to the rest of the textiles on exhibit, adapted to resto de los textiles en exhibicin, adaptndola a
the specific characteristics of each piece. In order las caractersticas especficas de cada pieza. Para
to accomplish this task and then put the results realizar este estudio y luego llevarla a la prctica, se
in practice, we formed a multidisciplinary team conform un equipo multidisciplinario compuesto
composed of physicists, designers, museographers, por fsicos, diseadores, musegrafos, curadores
curators specialized in archeology, and arquelogos y conservadores, tanto del museo
conservators, from the Museums staff, as well as como de la Pontificia Universidad Catlica de
from the Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile. Chile.
The principal objectives of this team were divided Los objetivos principales de este equipo se
in two areas that were of equal importance: the plantearon en dos mbitos que deban funcionar
presentation of the outfit in such a way that en equilibrio: por un lado, lograr que el pblico
the public could appreciate the richness of its pudiera apreciar el traje en toda su riqueza de
forms, textures and colors and, the design and formas, texturas y colores y, por otro, disear un
implementation of a system of illumination that sistema que lograse iluminar las piezas sin provocar
would not provoke irreversible damage to the daos irreversibles en ellas. La especial complejidad
textiles. The great complexity of the costume de este tejido planteaba desafos especficos que no
presented specific challenges that are not common son comunes a la mayora de los textiles carentes de
to the majority of pre-Columbian textiles, which volmenes. Este estrecho trabajo interdisciplinario
are generally flat. The close collaboration among requiri buscar un equilibro entre las posiciones de
the different members of the team contributed cada uno de los profesionales que particip, cada
to the equilibrium of the final result. While each uno de los cuales defenda las premisas propias de
expert defended the premises that were specific to su mbito especifico.
the area involved, each was able to understand and
Condiciones generales para el montaje
contribute to the solution of the overall problem at
de textiles precolombinos
hand.
Un tema que debe ser definido antes de disear el
General conditions for mounting montaje, es la posicin que adoptar el textil en
pre-Columbian textiles exhibicin y el espacio en el que se desplegar. En
A decision that had to be taken before designing the esta decisin, se busca equilibrar los postulados de
actual mounting of the costume was what would be uso de las prendas, elaborados por curadura, con
its positioning within the context of the exhibition los criterios de conservacin y la buena lectura de la
and what space it would occupy. Once again, the pieza, desde el punto de vista del pblico.
curatorial vision of placing the costume within the
En el contexto de la museografa, se considera
context of its usage had to be reconciled with the
que una buena forma de exhibir los textiles es en
criteria of conservation and display that permitted
forma vertical, lo cual permite apreciar el conjunto
the public to understand what they were seeing.
y cada una de sus partes. Esta disposicin, sin
In the museographic context, the most adequate embargo, es inadecuada de acuerdo a los criterios
form of display is hanging the textiles vertically, de conservacin, ya que se producen complejas
which allows one to see costume and each of its tensiones estructurales. A la vez, desde el punto de
components. This procedure, however, does not vista cultural dicha forma de presentar los textiles

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comply with the conservation criteria, because tambin es incorrecta porque se les exhibe como si
hanging the textile produces complex structural fuera un cuadro, siendo una obra textil cuya forma
tensions. Similarly, from a cultural viewpoint, it y funcin se interpreta como una pieza de vestuario.
is also incorrect, because the textile is exhibited En cambio, desde el punto de vista de conservacin
as if it were a picture, whereas a textile in reality, es adecuado colocar el textil en posicin horizontal,
should be interpreted as a piece of clothing. On the lo que obviamente compromete la posibilidad de
other hand, from the point of view of conservation, observarlo como conjunto. Por ltimo, una buena
it is safer to install textiles horizontally. That manera de interpretar la pieza sera disponerla en lo
positioning, however, makes it impossible to view que se considera su exacta posicin de uso, lo que
the costume as unit. The best way to facilitate a podra afectar seriamente la estabilidad del tejido.

Entre los aos 2000 y 2003 se


confeccionaron dos maquetas
pequeas y luego un soporte 1:1,
para estudiar el despliegue y
posicin de cada una de
las piezas que conforman
el conjunto. (Dibujo, Jos Prez
de Arce).
Between 2000 and 2003, two
small scale models and a support
designed to a scale of 1:1 were
built, to study the display
and positioning of each of the
ceremonial costumes three
pieces.

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proper interpretation of the costume would be to Si bien no existe una manera preestablecida para
arrange it in what appears to be the exact position of coordinar todos estos aspectos, en general se cuida
its usage, but that could seriously affect the stability que la pieza est dispuesta con el mayor equilibrio
of the structure. y la menor tensin estructural, buscando disear
una interpretacin que se acerque lo ms posible
As there are no pre-established mechanisms
a su hipottica posicin de uso y una disposicin
available to assimilate and coordinate all of these
de conjunto que quede cmoda al campo visual
considerations, special care is taken to place the
del espectador, ojal bastante cerca de sus ojos. De
artwork in a way that insures a minimum degree of
acuerdo a ello, el diseo parte de una interpretacin
structural stress. The goal is to create an installation
del textil que supone posiciones y relaciones entre
that presents the usage of the costume, as well as
las partes, para luego ir afinando los compromisos
enhancing its visual appreciation from as close
con las condiciones de conservacin y las
as possible. In accordance with these premises,
condiciones de lectura de la exhibicin.
the design originates as an interpretation of the
costume that supposes positioning and relating the Desde el punto de vista de curadura, entonces,
three components, and then adjusting the display se propone una interpretacin de cada prenda del
to the proper conditions of conservation and atuendo Chim de acuerdo a su forma y posicin
contextualization within the exhibition. de uso. En el caso del taparrabo, el panel frontal,
que contiene los diseos, se presenta en un plano
From the curatorial point of view, the designers
inclinado para favorecer su apreciacin, mientras
proposed an interpretation of each of the three
que el resto de la prenda que comprende un extenso
pieces of the Chim costume according to the form
pao caf se dispone por debajo, para recogerse
and position of the garments usage. In the case of
detrs. La camisa no ofrece problemas porque se
the breechcloth, its short skirt, which is covered
entiende por su forma, y as se ubica sobre el sector
with designs, is presented at an inclined angle so
medio del faldelln. El turbante cubre la cabeza con
that the public can appreciate its decorated surface,
los dos sectores ornamentados colgando hacia atrs,
while the rest of the garment, which is composed
por sobre la espalda del cuerpo.
of a large coffee-colored cloth, is displayed
beneath and gathered behind. The tunic offered
no problems, because it is placed in a manner that
corresponds to its shape, and suspending it over the
middle sector of the short skirt. The turban covers
the head, with its two ornamental pieces hanging
behind, falling over the back of the body.

Instalacin del traje para tomas


fotogrficas del libro del museo
Arte Mayor de Los Andes
(1989).
Installation of the costume for
photographs for the Museums
book, Arte Mayor de Los
Andes, in 1989.

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Supports: characteristics and the resulting solution Soportes: caractersticas y solucin actual
The purpose of supports is to install the textiles Los soportes sirven para instalar el textil en la
in the exhibition in the most adequate way. Their exhibicin y su diseo debe considerar proteger la
design must take into account the best ways to integridad de la pieza y facilitar el mximo control
protect the integrity of the pieces and facilitate the en la manipulacin de los objetos, permitiendo
maximum control during the manipulation of the instalar las prendas sin que sufran deterioro y
objects. It must permit the garments to be installed logrando un apoyo que evite la fatiga fsica de
in a way that protects them from any damage los materiales, el roce y el deslizamiento. Un
and guarantees the support necessary to protect buen diseo de soporte exige, adems, considerar
them from any physical fatigue to the materials, distintos criterios para decidir cul es el mejor
as well as damage from friction and vibration. ngulo de visin y la geometra visual adecuada
A well-designed support requires, as well, the para la presentacin de la pieza.
incorporation of design criteria to be able to choose
Desde el punto de vista de conservacin, el soporte
the best angle of vision and the most satisfactory
debe ser fabricado con materiales inertes, estables
visual geometry for presenting the costume.
y libres de cido, adems es importante que todos
From the viewpoint of the conservator, the support los bordes estn pulidos para evitar roces en la
should be made of inert, stable, and acid-free instalacin. En el caso del soporte del traje Chim,
materials, as well as be manufactured with well- se decidi utilizar acrlico, material que permite
polished edges to protect the pieces when they apreciar su transparencia y resaltar los detalles de
are being installed. In the case of the support for
the Chim ceremonial costume, acrylic, a material
appreciated for its transparency, was chosen to

ltimo prototipo escala 1: 1,


vistas anterior y posterior.
Final prototype scale 1:1,
front and back views.

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permit the illumination to enhance the details of su trama a travs del sistema de iluminacin. Se
the textiles. Acrylic panels of 10 millimeters were opt por un acrlico de 10 mm de espesor para la
chosen for the supports, as well as for the structural realizacin de todas las piezas que soportan el traje,
pieces. as como para las piezas estructurales.
All of the design ideas were produced in prototypes Todas las decisiones que llevaron al actual diseo
of the exact size to be used in the installations, del soporte fueron ensayadas en un prototipo
and then tested to guarantee impeccable results. In escala 1:1, el cual fue sometido a todas las pruebas
order to test the prototypes, exact replicas of the necesarias para lograr un montaje satisfactorio.
costume were made in cotton cloth. One of the Para realizar estas precisiones se utiliz un juego de
most important questions concerned the design of piezas textiles de igual dimensin que las originales,
the installation, the components to be used, and elaboradas en algodn crudo. En este sentido, uno
how the structural relationships between them de los temas ms importantes fue comprobar que
could simplify the design and facilitate access in a las partes del montaje, su ensamble y sus relaciones
way that would prevent damage to the textiles. estructurales permitieran la simpleza de montaje
y facilidad de acceso, evitando los movimientos
bruscos que pudiesen daar el tejido.

Dibujo digital del soporte en que


se exhibe el traje (Gentileza de
A. Irarrzaval).
Plans for the support on which
the ceremonial costume is
exhibited.

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Showcases: characteristics and resulting solutions Vitrinas: caractersticas y solucin actual
A showcase must comply with numerous Una vitrina debe cumplir con los requisitos
prerequisites to guarantee that the objects which necesarios para garantizar que no se producirn
they are designed to protect suffer no damage. In daos en los objetos que contiene. En primer lugar,
the first place, all the materials that are utilized todos los materiales utilizados en su construccin
must be the most inert possible. Then, they must be deben ser lo ms inertes posible. Luego, debe
sealed, so that they are free from pollution and safe estar sellada para bloquear la polucin y evitar
from changes in humidity and temperature, as well los cambios en la humedad y temperatura,
as damaging radiation from environmental light. limitando tambin la radiacin daina de la luz. Su
A hermetic seal also safeguards the textiles from hermetismo, adems, sirve para bloquear el acceso
intrusive insects, rodents, or any other potentially de insectos, roedores u otros organismos dainos.
dangerous organisms. It is also important to protect Es importante tambin asegurar que la pieza quede
the artworks from robbery or vandalism, which a salvo contra robos y vandalismo, lo que implica la
requires implementing systems that control locks, utilizacin de sistemas de cerradura controlada y de
as well as employing durable fireproof materials. materiales incombustibles y de buena permanencia
en el tiempo.

Dibujo digital de la vitrina en


que se exhibe el traje (Gentileza
de A. Irarrzaval).
Plan for the showcase in which
the costume is exhibited.

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capitulo4b.indd 75 6/11/14 13:41:57


Starting with these premises, the showcase for Partiendo de estas premisas, se dise para este
the costume was designed with glass on all four atuendo una vitrina que contempla vidrios por
sides, and a metallic top which held all of the los cuatro costados, con un techo metlico que
electronic infrastructure and that diffused heat. guarda toda la infraestructura elctrica y que sirve
The system for opening the showcase was designed de difusor para el calor. El sistema de apertura
to provide easy access to handle the costume de la vitrina est diseado para poder desplazar
mounted on its acrylic support. This requirement el traje montado sobre su soporte hacia afuera
meant that a lateral door, as well as the panel at the y poder acceder con la mxima comodidad para
bottom of the showcase, would open, allowing su instalacin y retiro eventual. Esto oblig a
access on three sides. This solution permitted the idear una puerta que desplaza el vidrio lateral y
possibility that two or more technicians could luego, un segundo desplazamiento del piso para
work simultaneously with the textiles during the poder acceder a la pieza por tres costados. Esta
installation process. The showcase and the process solucin permite que dos o ms personas puedan
designed for its installation took into account the simultneamente trabajar en las piezas textiles
need to transport the Chim costume from the durante los procesos de montaje y desmontaje.
Andes Room, where it was provisionally mounted El conjunto vitrina y montaje contempl, adems,
for this temporary exhibition, to the Textile Room, en su diseo inicial, el traslado desde la Sala Andes,
where it would be installed permanently. donde el atuendo se ha instalado provisoriamente
para esta exhibicin temporal, hasta la Sala Textil,
General conditions for illuminating
lugar donde se instalar definitivamente.
pre-Columbian textiles
Exposure to light causes irreparable damage to Condiciones generales de iluminacin
organic materials and to some inorganic objects. para textiles precolombinos
Damage can be visible, such as fading or changes La exposicin a la luz causa daos irreversibles
in color, or less visible, such as the weakening of a los materiales orgnicos y a algunos objetos
the microscopic structure of the material. There are inorgnicos. Los daos pueden ser visibles, como
three components of light that can cause damage el desteido o cambios en el color, o menos
and must be controlled when exhibiting ancient perceptibles a la vista, como el debilitamiento de
textiles: visible light, ultraviolet radiation (uv) and la estructura microscpica del material. Son tres
infrared radiation (ir). los componentes de la luz que pueden causar dao
y que se deben controlar para la exhibicin de los
Ultraviolet radiation is a natural component
textiles: la luz visible, la radiacin ultravioleta (uv)
of sunlight and is also produced by artificial
y la radiacin infrarroja (ir).
illumination, especially from fluorescent lighting
and halogen light bulbs. They are the principal La radiacin uv es un componente natural
causes of loss of color in textiles. According to de la luz solar y es tambin producida por las
international museum norms, uv radiation should luces artificiales, especialmente por lmparas
be filtered when it exceeds 75 uW/lumen. Infrared fluorescentes y lmparas halgenas, siendo una de
radiation is the heat associated with solar light las principales causantes de la prdida de colores

Qu es un lux? Un lux es una unidad de intensidad de


iluminacin, equivalente a la de una superficie de un metro
tro cuadrado, sobre la que incide normalmente un flujo luminoso
1 me
de una vela corriente de cera, a un metro de distancia. Para
la iluminacin de los textiles y materiales muy sensibles, el
mximo sugerido es de 50 unidades lux. Para su medicin se
1 metro
1 metro

utiliza un instrumento denominado luxmetro.


What is a lux? A system used to measure the intensity of
illumination on a surface of a square meter, which normally
receives the luminous flow of a common wax candle (candela),
from the distance of a meter. For lighting textiles and other
sensitive materials, the maximum that is recommended is 50
lumens. A light meter is used to measure the intensity
of the light.

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and incandescent lighting. This heat causes an en un textil. Segn las normas internacionales de
exponential elevation in the rate of deterioration of los museos, se debe filtrar la radiacin uv cuando
objects via the acceleration of chemical reactions su proporcin de luz es mayor que 75 uW/lumen.
and the desiccation of organic materials. La radiacin infrarroja (ir) es el calor asociado con
la luz solar y con las luces incandescentes. Este
Illuminating the Chim ceremonial
calor puede ocasionar una elevacin exponencial
costume: specific challenges
en la tasa de deterioro de los objetos mediante
The design of a lighting system for the costume
la aceleracin de las reacciones qumicas y la
had to combine the strict standards of conservation
desecacin de los materiales orgnicos.
with the optimization of the design of the supports
and showcase. The intensity of the illumination, Luz para el traje Chim: desafos especficos
therefore, had to be the minimum that would allow El diseo de un sistema de iluminacin para este
the visitor to see the details and observe them traje deba combinar los estrictos estndares de
without straining the eye. conservacin con la optimizacin del diseo del
soporte y vitrina. La intensidad de la luz, entonces,
In order to achieve the desired luminosity, the
deba ser la mnima posible dentro del rango que
team worked with a maximum of 50 lumens.
permitiese al visitante ver detalles y recorrerlos con
The technicians took care to diffuse the light
la vista sin esforzarse.
evenly over the surface of the textiles, to avoid the
possibility of any discoloration of the garments. Para lograr la luminosidad deseada, se trabaj con
In addition, the lighting had to be adapted to the un mximo de 50 lux, cuidando difundir la luz en
specific characteristics of the textiles, which, at forma totalmente pareja por el textil, para evitar
times, were contradictory. On the one hand, it was diferencias que pudiesen ocasionar decoloracin
important to show the transparency of the textile localizada. Adems, la iluminacin deba adaptarse
structure of the ground, while on the other hand, to a las especiales caractersticas del tejido, que
highlight the opaque volumes applied to the plain presenta condiciones contradictorias para la
weave surface. iluminacin ya que, por una parte, interesaba
mostrar la transparencia de la estructura textil del
To solve this complicated problem, Hernn
soporte y, por otra, era importante destacar los
Chuaqui and Edmund Wyndham, physicists from
volmenes opacos aplicados sobre el tejido base.
the Catholic University in Santiago de Chile,
designed a lighting system based on led (Light Para solucionar este complejo problema, Hernn
Emitting Diodes), diodes emitting light in a narrow Chuaqui y Edmund Wyndham, fsicos de la
range of wavelengths. This method permits an Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile, disearon
exact control of the temperature and intensity of un sistema de iluminacin basado en led (Light-
color, as each diode emits colors independently in Emitting Diodes), diodos emisores de luz que
a spectrum that can then be mixed by means of funcionan en un rango de longitudes de onda
a microprocessor controlled electronic circuit. In muy acotado, permitiendo un fino control de la
addition, its miniscule size permits adjusting its temperatura e intensidad del color, ya que cada
diodo emite colores independientes en el espectro

En la imagen se observa un
pointled, cuyo dimetro es de
2 mm y su peso de 6 miligramos.
In this picture, a pointled can
be observed, whose diameter
is 2 millimeters and whose
weight is 6 milligrams.

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capitulo4b.indd 77 10/11/05 12:59:22


location within the showcase in a precise way. The que luego pueden ser mezcladosmediante
systems design is sufficiently flexible to allow the un sistema que utiliza un microprocesador
placement of a number of led in strategic sites, para controlar los circuitos que alimentan los
all vital to the installation, the visitor, and the led. Adems, su pequesimo tamao permite
showcase itself. controlar su posicin en la vitrina en forma
precisa y el sistema diseado es lo suficientemente
Once these methods were decided, the lighting
flexible como para ubicar muchos led en lugares
system was designed to combine two sources of
estratgicos con respecto al montaje, a la vitrina y al
light: one that lighted the textile from behind,
visitante.
emphasizing its transparency, and a second that
illuminated the textiles with a flat trajectory A partir de estas caractersticas, se dise una
originating at a lateral angle from outside of iluminacin combinada de dos fuentes de luz:
the showcase, which generated shadowing that un conjunto que ilumina el textil desde atrs,
enhanced the appreciation of the volumes. destacando su transparencia, y un segundo
conjunto que produce una iluminacin rasante, al
The light that came from behind the textile was
iluminar el textil desde el exterior en forma lateral,
diffused inside the body of the acrylic support that
generando sombras que permiten apreciar los
serves to mount the textiles, by using the principal
elementos en volumen.
of fiber optics. A number of led were installed
at the edges of the acrylic support to bathe it in La luz que proviene desde atrs del textil se difunde
luminosity. The textile was then installed. Lights en el cuerpo del acrlico que soporta el montaje
were attached to the edges of the acrylic support del textil, utilizando el principio de la fibra ptica.
in a series of circuits that, because of their small Se instal una cantidad de led en los bordes del
size, gave the appearance of an opaque border that acrlico para generar un soporte luminoso, sobre
framed the transparent material. el cual descansa el textil. La fijacin de la luz se
hizo adhiriendo a los cantos del acrlico una serie
de circuitos que, por su pequeo tamao, dan
la apariencia de un borde opaco que enmarca el
material transparente.

En el proceso de diseo del sistema de iluminacin se realizaron varias Se efectuaron pruebas con distintos tipos de acrlicos para definir el
maquetas de circuitos, en las que dispusieron los led en distintas series soporte del atuendo, considerando el material que lograse la mejor
para probar las mezclas de color. difusin de la luz.
In the design process for the lighting system, several models for circuits Different kinds of acrylic were tested to select the material for
were made, in which the led were placed in different series to test the the costumes support. The objective was the material that best
mixes of color. diffused light.

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Regarding the second kind of illumination, two or Respecto a la iluminacin rasante se combinaron
more sources of light were combined, located at dos o ms fuentes de luz, ubicadas en lados
opposite sides of the showcase. These installations opuestos y que fueron programadas para funcionar
were programmed to function in slow alternating en lentos ciclos de alternancia, produciendo un
sequences, producing the effect of an even bao de luz parejo sobre todo el textil. De esta
illumination over the entire surface of the textiles. manera, se evita el deterioro que producira una luz
In this way, the technicians avoided any damage lateral y las sombras que ella podra generar.
that might occur from direct lateral lighting and the
Todo este sistema de iluminacin oblig a repartir
shadows that it might produce.
las fuentes de luz en el interior de la vitrina, en
This lighting system obliged spreading the sources el soporte y en los sectores cercanos a la tela. El
of lighting across the interior of showcase, on the diseo de la instalacin de las luces y de los cables
support, and on the nearer sectors of the textiles. se hizo de modo que interfiriera lo menos posible
The lighting installation, including its cables, la visualizacin del textil. As tambin, se evitaron
was designed to enhance the costumes visibility. los reflejos y brillos innecesarios, a travs de una
Reflections and unnecessary glare were reduced correcta posicin y direccin de las fuentes de luz,
through a correct positioning and focusing of the lo que facilita la percepcin del visitante.
sources of lighting, which facilitated viewing the
Desde el punto de vista de la conservacin del
Chim costume.
textil, este sistema de iluminacin produce muy
From the point of view of the textiles conservation, poca disipacin de energa en calor y minimiza los
this lighting system produces little dissipation efectos nocivos por exposicin a la luz, ya que los
of energy in heat and minimizes the damaging led no presentan ni ir ni uv, evitando daos en el
effects of exposure to light, as the led do not color y la estructura de la pieza. La temperatura
emit ir or uv, avoiding any damage to the color de color, adems, se regul al ptimo que permite
or the structure of the pieces. The temperature of visualizar la riqueza de colorido de la tela,
color, in addition, is kept at an optimal level which disminuyendo al mximo las frecuencias lumnicas
permits viewing the richness of the colors, while que no son reflejadas por el textil.
diminishing to a minimum any frequencies that are
not reflected by the textile itself.

La disposicin de los led en las maquetas que se usaron para disear Se confeccionaron varias maquetas de circuitos, en las que dispusieron
el sistema lumnico, requiri de gran precisin para soldar los pequeos los led en distintas series para probar las mezclas de color.
diodos a los circuitos. Various models for the circuits were built, in which the led were placed
The placing of the led in the models that were used to design the in different series to test the color mix.
lighting system required great precision when soldering the small diodes
to the circuits.

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Recreating a fragment for the lighting model Recreacin de un fragmento para
The Chim ceremonial costume is one of the maqueta de iluminacin
most studied artworks in the Museums textile El atuendo Chim ha sido una de las piezas ms
collection. One of the research projects, associated estudiadas de la coleccin textil de nuestro museo.
with fondecyt Project 194091, provided the Una de estas investigaciones, asociada al proyecto
material for a book, Fertilidad para el desierto: un fondecyt 1940091, dio origen al libro monogrfico
traje ceremonial Chim, costa norte de los Andes Fertilidad para el desierto. Un traje ceremonial
Centrales, siglos xiii xv, by Paulina Brugnoli, Chim, costa norte de los Andes Centrales, siglos
Soledad Hoces de la Guardia, Paulina Jlvez, xiii xv, de Paulina Brugnoli, Soledad Hoces
and Tania Gmez, designers from the Catholic de la Guardia, Paulina Jlvez y Tania Gmez,
University of Chile. Thanks to this detailed diseadoras de la Pontificia Universidad Catlica
study, the majority of the techniques used in these de Chile. Gracias a este detallado estudio, se
textiles could be identified, as well as the varieties pudo identificar la mayora de las tcnicas textiles
of fibers employed. The research, in addition, utilizadas en las piezas del traje, as como los tipos
included the typology of the volumetric figures de fibra utilizados en el tejido. La investigacin,
attached the cloth, classifying each according to adems, incluye una tipologa de las figuras
their botanical species and symbolic associations, as volumtricas aplicadas al tejido, clasificndolas
well as providing an interpretation to the cultural segn su especie botnica y asociacin simblica,
significance of the ceremonial costume. as como se ensaya una interpretacin respecto del
significado cultural del traje.
On the basis of this meticulous study, it was
possible to recreate a fragment of the Chim A partir de este acucioso trabajo se pudo recrear
costume, with the objective of making the lighting un fragmento del atuendo Chim, con el objetivo
tests required to design the lighting system for the de realizar las pruebas de iluminacin necesarias
exhibition. It was impossible to carry out these para disear el sistema lumnico para la exposicin.
tests with the textiles themselves, because of the Por la constante manipulacin que suponen estas
constant handling of the pieces that would have pruebas, era imposible realizarlas directamente
been necessary. For this reason, and because of the sobre el traje. Por eso, y con el afn de disear un
urgency of designing a system that functioned in sistema que funcionara en la prctica y no slo en
practice and not just in theory, the decision was teora, se decidi reproducir una parte del textil
taken to reproduce a piece of a textile, with the con todas las especiales caractersticas cromticas
specific chromatic and structural characteristics of y estructurales que esta pieza presenta, las que son
the costume, to undergo the tests needed to design tambin, los desafos para su iluminacin.
an adequate lighting system.
Mara Victoria Carvajal, restauradora del museo,
Mara Victoria Carvajal, the Museums restorer, asumi entonces esta importante tarea, que deba
undertook the task, which required producing the ser realizada en poco tiempo, pero en forma muy
fragment quickly, but with great care. The first delicada. Lo primero que se hizo fue seleccionar el
decision was to choose the fragment of the costume fragmento que se iba a reproducir. Hubo acuerdo
to be reproduced. The choice was four modules of en elegir cuatro mdulos del rea inferior izquierda
the lower left side of the skirt of the breechcloth. del faldelln del taparrabo. Despus de disear un
After designing a general plan for procedures, plan general de trabajo que contemplase los tres
which took into account the three textile systems sistemas textiles que presenta el tejido (soporte o
included in the costume (ground or basic weaves, tejido base, aplicaciones y terminaciones), comenz

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applications and the finishing), the search was la bsqueda de materiales y la definicin de la
begun to find proper materials and to define of a paleta de color. Para la urdimbre, se us algodn
palette of colors. For the warp, raw white cotton blanco crudo, hilado en dos cabos muy finos y
was selected, spun from two fine strands and with con una tensin muy fuerte ya que deba resistir el
a tension strong enough to resist the interweaving entramado de tapicera y el peso y tensin de las
of the tapestry and the weight and tension of the figuras volumtricas. stas se realizaron con fibra
volumetric figures. These were to be made with de pelo de camlido, el que fue adelgazado, teido y
camelid fiber, which had to be thinned, dyed, and envejecido, para emular lo ms fielmente posible el
aged, in order to emulate the color of the pre- color del textil precolombino.
Columbian textile the most faithfully possible.
Una vez seleccionado el material necesario, se
Once the materials were selected, the threads were procedi a tejer en un telar especialmente fabricado
woven on a loom specially designed for the project para esta tarea por Nlson Espinoza. Se realiz el
by Nlson Espinoza. The team produced the soporte con tejido reticular y tapicera ranurada,
ground of reticular weave and slit tapestry, which los que ordenan el diseo y son la base sobre la cual
structured the design and provided the base upon se sustentan las figuras volumtricas, ms los tejidos
which the volumetric figures were attached, as well circulares que luego fueron fijados a la tela que
as the circular pieces that were then attached to the conforma la planta. Ya que la fase de tapicera poda
cloth to form the different plants. Since the phase ser muy lenta, se decidi imprimir sobre gnero,
of preparing the tapestry would be very slow, it was retocando luego con lpices blandos de color, hasta
decided to print directly onto the cloth, retouching conseguir la tonalidad deseada. Este trabajo se le
the surface with soft colored pencils, until the encarg a Carlos Rivas, quien realiz varias pruebas
desired tonality was achieved. Carlos Rivas did this antes de dar con las caractersticas especficas que
work, developing a technique that finally produced requera la impresin.
the specific characteristics that the impression
required.

Bastidor en el cual se construy


la rplica de un segmento
del traje.
Stretcher on which the replica of
a fragment of the costume was
prepared.

Proceso de armado de la
recreacin de un fragmento
del traje.
The preparatory process
for recreating a fragment
of the costume.

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For the next step, the restorer consulted the A continuacin, basndose en la informacin
technical information from previous studies. She tcnica del estudio antes mencionado, pero
depended fundamentally, however, on observation fundamentalmente observando y comparando con
and comparison with the original textiles to el original, se elaboraron las figuras volumtricas
prepare the volumetric figures, grouping them in agrupadas en 24 conjuntos. A poco andar, se hizo
24 sets. It soon became evident that the capacities evidente que se requera la capacidad y entusiasmo
and enthusiasm of more than one weaver was de ms de una tejedora, por lo que en esta fase se
needed. At this point, Nancy Valdivia joined the integra Nancy Valdivia, quien ya tena experiencia
project. Her experience in pre-Columbian textiles, en artes textiles prehispnicas, especialmente
especially cross-knit looping, was crucial. The en la tcnica de anillado. Se tejieron numerosas
team prepared numerous simple tassels, leaves, borlas simples, hojas, ptalos, mazorcas, pistilos,
petals, ears of corn, pistils, stamens, and fruits, estambres y frutos, que luego combinados, daran
which were then combined, and given the forms forma a las figuras presentes en el traje original.
that were found in the original costume. Next, Luego, se fijaron estas representaciones al tejido
these representations were attached to the plain plano y, a la vez, a una base de crepelina de seda.
weave ground and, at the same time, to a ground of Una vez finalizado el trabajo, se confeccion una
crepeline. Once the task was completed, a base of base de etafon a la medida y una caja de cartn
etafoam was prepared to the required dimensions, neutro para su proteccin y traslado. As, fue
and a box of neutral cardboard was built to protect entregada al equipo de fsicos para realizar las
and transport the finished fragment. Then, it was pruebas que permitieron el diseo preciso del actual
presented to the team of physicists to carry out the sistema de iluminacin.
tests that permitted the meticulous design of the
lighting system now in use.

Rplica de un segmento
del traje.
Replica of a segment of the
costume.

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Museography and design Museografa y diseo
The museography, understood as the dialectic unity La museografa entendida como la unidad
that provides solutions to the tension between dialctica que plantea soluciones a la tensin entre
art and science that underlies the exhibitions at arte y ciencia que subyace a las exposiciones de
our Museum, had to give form to the content nuestro museo debe dar una forma al contenido
proposed by the curators, in a coherent and planteado por curadura, conformando un relato
attractive presentation for the visitor. In addition, coherente y atractivo para el visitante. Adems, la
the museography had to be subordinated to museografa debe supeditarse a las constricciones
restrictions related to the conservation of the pieces que plantea la conservacin de las piezas que sern
to be exhibited, with the possibility of transforming exhibidas, con la posibilidad de transformar estos
these obstacles into advantages incorporated in the escollos en valores de diseo. Para realizar esta
design. To achieve this goal, the exhibition had to tarea, la exposicin debe plantearse de tal manera
be envisioned in such a way that its objectives were que sus objetivos sean precisos y susceptibles de ser
practical and susceptible to being expressed expresados espacialmente.
in terms of space.
Alrededor de este atuendo Chim se han articulado
A diversity of visions in relation to the nature of diversas miradas que se han organizado en la sala
the contents of the Chim ceremonial costume de exhibicin en relacin a la naturaleza de su
has been incorporated into the organization contenido. De acuerdo al carcter monogrfico
of the exhibition space. In accord with the de esta muestra, el traje viene a conformarse en el
monographic character of the exhibition, the elemento centrpeto, donde convergen mltiples
costume had become the centripetal element, interpretaciones y reflexiones contextuales en
where multiple interpretations and contextual torno a su riqueza expresiva. El ordenamiento
reflections converge in its expressive richness. The de su entorno y la disposicin de los elementos
ordering of its surroundings and the displacement complementarios responden, entonces, a las
of all complementary elements respond, then, to circunstancias funcionales y temporales que se le
functional and temporal circumstances that have han atribuido.
been attributed to the costume itself.
As, el eje articulador del espacio de exhibicin es
Thus, the central axis of the exhibition space is the la recreacin del espacio arquitectnico de la urbe
recreation of the architectural environment of the Chim de Chan Chan, definido por una intrincada
Chim city of Chan Chan, defined by an intricate sucesin de pasillos y recintos labernticos, de
succession of hallways and labyrinthine enclosures diferente tamao y espacialidad. Estos espacios
of different sizes and uses. These spaces achieve tienen una monumentalidad dada por sus altas
their monumentality through high, adobe brick paredes de adobe y los frisos en sobre y bajo relieve
walls, visually reinforced by the friezes in high and con diversos diseos repetidos que ostentan la
low relief in diverse repetitive designs that can be mayora de sus recintos, los que construyen un
found in most of the enclosures, and in themselves lenguaje iconogrfico en s. El objetivo planteado
create an iconographic language. The objective that por museografa era sugerir este entorno a
the museographers proposed was to insinuate this travs de materiales y tcnicas de produccin
environment through materials and techniques of contemporneas, adaptadas al interior del museo
contemporary production. These materials were para, en primera instancia, situar al visitante en el
adapted to the interior of the Museum so that, in contexto espacial de la compleja sociedad Chim.
the first place, the visitor found himself situated in
Secuencia espacial: Diseo del recorrido
the special context of the Chims complex society.
De acuerdo al guin curatorial, se comenz a
The spatial sequence: the design of an itinerary organizar el recorrido y la secuencia de espacios
According to the curatorial plan, the team began que daran a la sala Andes las caractersticas
to organize the sequence of movement through sensoriales que determinan la atmsfera de la
the exhibition space, in terms of the visitors exposicin. Pese a que la sala es bastante rgida
itinerary, that would give the Andes Room the en trminos espaciales ya que se trata de un
sensorial characteristics needed to establish the gran espacio y muy abierto se lograron recrear
atmosphere of the exhibition. In spite of the fact aspectos de la arquitectura de Chan Chan, en base
that the Andes Room is quite rigid in spatial design,

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Plano de la exposicin.
Exhibition plan.

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a large and open area, it was possible to recreate a la interpretacin de la planta de una de las 11
aspects of the architecture in Chan Chan, based on ciudadelas que integran esta urbe.
an interpretation of the plan of one of the eleven
El plan general determina, en cierta forma, el
fortresses integrated into the city.
recorrido del visitante desde que ingresa hasta que
The general plan determines, to a certain degree, sale. La entrada enfrenta un largo pasillo de unos
the itinerary of the visitor from beginning to 20 m, en cuyo fondo se divisa un grupo de estatuas
end. The entrance opens onto a long passageway de madera. Al avanzar, se descubre una apertura
that measures 20 meters (65 feet), at the end of lateral izquierda que se abre a la sala introductoria,
which a group of wooden statues can be seen. donde se desarrolla una presentacin del contexto
On advancing, a lateral opening to the left expositivo, a travs de mapas, material audiovisual
provides access to an introductory space, where e imgenes que dan cuenta del entorno geogrfico y
a presentation of material contextualizing the cultural de la sociedad Chim.
exhibition is offered through a series of maps,
Saliendo de esta sala y llegando al final del pasillo,
audiovisual material, and images that illustrate the
se abre una continuacin del mismo hacia la
cultural and geographical environment of Chim
derecha, donde se proyecta un vdeo que presenta
society.
el espacio arquitectnico y la ambientacin del
On leaving this space and reaching the end of the sitio de Chan Chan. A un costado de la proyeccin
passageway, a continuation of the hallway opens to audiovisual se abre una puerta a una sala lateral,
the right, where a video film presents an overview donde se trata el tema de las materialidades y las
of the architectural space and the ambience of tcnicas textiles del traje, y desde la cual se aprecia
Chan Chan itself. At one side of the audiovisual por transparencia la sala contigua, en la que se
presentation, a door opens on a lateral room, where explican los significados simblicos asociados al
the theme of the materials and techniques used in traje. Ambas salas contienen piezas en cpulas,
the making of the ceremonial costume is treated. informacin escrita, diagramas y dibujos.
A contiguous room can now be perceived, visible
Luego se ingresa al recinto del atuendo, donde
within the context of is transparency. Here, the
solamente est la vitrina que lo contiene. A ambos
symbolic significance of the costume is explained.
costados, se encuentran otras dos salas dedicadas
Both rooms contain pieces exhibited in cupolas,
a explicar los desafos que debi afrontar el
written information, diagrams and drawings.
equipo para exhibir esta pieza. En una de ellas, se
The next space is the enclosure where the muestra un registro audiovisual del trabajo con el
ceremonial costume is displayed. This area contains sistema de iluminacin, la vitrina y los cuidados de
nothing more than the showcase housing the textile conservacin previos a la exposicin y, en la otra, se
garments. At each side of this space are two rooms exhiben estos temas mediante maquetas, dibujos y
dedicated to explaining the challenges that the team diagramas. Se sale de la exposicin por una puerta
of specialists faced in preparing the exhibition. In estrecha que desemboca en el mismo pasillo por el
one of the two spaces, an audiovisual chronicles cual se ingres.
the processes involved in designing and producing
Diseo de ambiente: luminosidad diferida
the lighting system, the showcase, as well as the
La iluminacin de los pasillos permite ambientar
previous steps taken to conserve the costume. The
el lugar como un desierto, con tonos clidos y
other room is designed to treat these same themes
con cielos luminosos, la luz difusa de un cielo
with models, drawings and diagrams. The exit
costeo, por lo general, nublado. La luz en las
is a narrow doorway that leads back to the same
salas que contextualizan el traje es de menor
passageway where the itinerary began.
intensidad, para contrastar el vdeo, sin cielo
The design of the environment: differed luminosity luminoso pero manteniendo su cualidad clida. La
The illumination of the hallways permits the luz del recinto del traje, en tanto, es muy tenue,
atmosphere of the space to represent the desert, casi una penumbra, en la cual la vitrina central es
with hot tones and bright skies, an echo of the la protagonista indiscutida. Las salas contiguas
diffuse light of a coastal sky, generally cloudy. a la sala central, tambin son bastante oscuras,
The lighting in the rooms that contextualize the como para no intervenir la penumbra que permite
ceremonial costume is less intense, to allow the apreciar el traje.

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necessary contrast for viewing the video film; this Diseo sonoro de la exposicin
space does not have a luminous sky, but the lighting La primera exhibicin temporal en nuestro museo
maintains the quality of warmth. The lighting in fue La Msica en el Arte Precolombino, en1982,
the enclosure where the ceremonial costume is y desde entonces se considera un diseo sonoro
displayed is tenuous; the room is almost in semi- como parte de la museografa, con distintos
darkness, making the centrally-located showcase acentos y niveles de protagonismo de acuerdo al
its sole protagonist. The rooms contiguous to the tema de la exposicin. Pero, en general, el objetivo
space displaying the costume are also quite dark, de incluir msica o sonidos en una exposicin
so as not to interfere with the relative darkness that es plantear un contexto auditivo que permita al
facilitates the appreciation of the costume. visitante desvincularse del ruido urbano y situarse
en otro espacio y tiempo. Se trata de un elemento
The design of sound for the exhibition
complementario que apoya los contenidos
In 1982, we presented the first temporary exhibit
racionales y analticos de la exposicin, desde el
at the Museum. The show was called Music in
conocimiento esttico y emocional.
pre-Columbian Art, and since then we consider
that sound is an integral part of our museography. En este caso se pensaron tres conjuntos de sonido
We design these programs with different accents distintos. El pasillo por el cual se ingresa est
and levels of impact according to the theme of ambientado con sonidos de mar, aludiendo a la
each exhibition. The overall objective for including costa norte del Per, pero sugiriendo que se trata
music or sound in an exhibition is considered
in an auditory context that allows the visitor to
disconnect himself from the noise of the city and

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situate himself in another space and time. We del entorno ms lejano al atuendo. En el siguiente
consider sound to be a complementary element that pasillo se escuchan murmullos de gente hablando,
supports the rational and analytical contents of the pasos en el suelo arenoso, insinuando la civilizacin
exhibition, with its origins in aesthetic as well as y el contexto cultural de Chan Chan. Finalmente, la
emotional knowledge. sala donde se encuentra el atuendo, est ambientada
con sonidos de pjaros de la zona, asocindolo a los
In this case, we devised three sets of different
frtiles huachaques y campos de cultivo.
sounds. Sounds of the sea can be heard in the
passageway that provides access to the exhibition.
These sounds alludes to the north coast of Per, but
also indicates that this was the area farthest from
the ceremonial costume itself. In the following
hallway, the murmur of people talking could be
discerned, as well as footsteps in a sandy soil,
insinuating civilization and the cultural context of
Chan Chan. Finally, in the room where the costume
is displayed, the sound of local birds can be heard,
evoking an association with the huachaques, or
fertile fields where the Chim raised their crops.
Equipo del museo en el corredor de entrada de la
ciudadela Tschudi de Chan Chan acompaados por el
arquelogo peruano Arturo Paredes.
The Museum staff in the hallway leading to the
Tschudi Compound at Chan Chan, accompanied by
Peruvian archaeologist Arturo Paredes.

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The audiovisual designed for the exhibition Material audiovisual de la exposicin
Throughout the history of our temporary A travs de su historia de exhibiciones temporales,
exhibitions, the Museum has sought to apply the nuestra institucin ha buscado aplicar en
latest knowledge and technological resources museografa nuevos conocimientos y recursos
that museographers have developed, taking into tecnolgicos, entendiendo que no hay una manera
account, however, that there is more than one way unvoca de transmitir la informacin. De acuerdo a
to transmit information. During the period of time los tiempos que hemos atravesado, la museografa
the Museum has been active, museographers have ha ido integrando nuevos medios de expresin al
integrated new mediums of expression to exhibition diseo de las exhibiciones, cuidando siempre que
design. They remain, however, careful not to la forma no distraiga de los contenidos, sino que
distract from the contents of an exhibition, which ms bien sea un vehculo que nos permita transferir
is the vehicle that permits us to transfer certain un cierto conocimiento que se ha considerado
knowledge that we consider to be important. importante difundir.
In 2003, we decided to present information As, a partir de 2003, se decide presentar
supplementary to the central theme of the informacin suplementaria al tema central de la
exhibition by means of audiovisual material. Our exhibicin a travs de material audiovisual. Se trata
intention is to provide material that cannot be de mostrar aquello que no se pueda comunicar a
communicated through objects, illustrations, or travs de objetos, ilustraciones o fotografas,
photographs, and which achieves the purpose of y que consiga complementar el sentido global
complementing the global meaning of the show. de la muestra.
In this case, three audiovisual presentations were En este caso, se presentan tres piezas audiovisuales
prepared to support and reinforce the exhibitions que funcionan al mismo tiempo como apoyo y
informational framework. The images that are componente del guin expositivo. Las imgenes
shown in the first room offer information about que se muestran en la sala introductoria entregan
the geographical context in which the ceremonial informacin del contexto geogrfico al que
costume, the heart of the exhibition, originated. pertenece el atuendo, eje central de la exhibicin.
Then, images of the desert, the sea, and the flora As entonces, se suceden imgenes del desierto, el
and fauna of the north coast of Per are projected mar y la flora y fauna de la costa norte del Per.
sequentially.
El vdeo que se presenta al final del pasillo, en
The video that is presented at the end of the hallway, tanto, corresponde a vistas de la arquitectura de
however, corresponds to visions of the architecture la ciudad de Chan Chan, sugiriendo la atmsfera
of the city of Chan Chan, suggesting an atmosphere de clausura y majestuosidad que la caracteriza.
of reclusion and majesty that characterizes the site. Las imgenes para construir estas dos piezas
The images used to make these two audiovisual audiovisuales fueron captadas en un viaje realizado
presentations were taken on a trip by our team por parte de los investigadores de nuestro museo al
of researchers to the center of what was once the corazn del territorio Chim.
empire of the Chim.
Para complementar el tema de los desafos
A series of clips that reflect the work undertaken expositivos, en una de las salas contiguas a la vitrina
prior to the exhibition itself are shown in a room central donde se ubica el atuendo, se muestra una
contiguous to the space where the ceremonial sucesin de clips que reflejan el trabajo previo a la
costume is installed. To complement the theme exposicin, abordando en detalle la especificidad
of the challenges that confronted the exhibitions de la labor profesional involucrada. A partir de
designers, the specific contributions of each of the junio de este ao, se comienza a registrar la labor
professionals that worked on the project have also de conservacin y museografa, poniendo especial
been chronicled. In June, we began to film members acento en el trabajo multidisciplinario que permiti
of the team involved in the tasks of conservation el diseo de un montaje e iluminacin especiales
and museography, placing special attention on para exhibir este traje.
the multidisciplinary work that permitted the
innovative installation design and the special
illumination that was created for this exhibition.

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Referencias

El atuendo Chim Cultura Chim


Brugnoli, P.; S. Hoces De La Guardia, Cordy-Collins, A., 1996
P. Jlvez y T. Gmez, 1996. Chim. En Andean Art at Dumbarton Oaks.
Fertilidad para el desierto: un traje ceremonial Volumen 1, A. Cordy-Collins (Ed.), pp. 223-
Chim, costa norte de los Andes Centrales, siglos 276, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and
xii- xvi. lom Ediciones, Santiago. Collection, Washington D.C.
De Lavalle, J. A. y R. De Lavalle (Eds.), 1999. Moseley, M. y K. Day (Eds.), 1982
Tejidos milenarios del Per. Chan Chan: Andean Desert City.
AFP Integra, Lima. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.
Gallardo, F., 2004.
Moseley, M. y A. Cordy Collins (Eds.), 1990
Un ensayo sobre cultura visual y arte Chim,
The northern dynasties kingship and statecraft
costa norte del Per.
in Chimor.
Boletn del Museo Chileno de Arte
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library an
Precolombino 9:3554, Santiago.
Collection, Washington, D.C.
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, 1989.
Ravines, R., 1980
Arte mayor de los Andes.
Chanchan, metrpolis Chim.
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Banco
Instituto de Estudios Peruanos, Lima.
OHiggins, Santiago.

Palma, J. y I. Baixas, 1986.


Estudio de tres piezas textiles que conforman un
atuendo funerario.
Chungar 1617: 381394, Arica.

Rowe, A., 1984.


Costumes & featherwork of the lords of Chimor.
The Textile Museum, Washington D.C.

Artculos de prensa:
1998, domingo 19 de abril.
El Mercurio, Artes & Letras, Agenda Cultural.
1998, lunes 20 de abril.
El Mercurio, Cuerpo C, Actividad Cultural.
1998, lunes 20 de abril.
La poca, Cultura.

Proyectos Fondecyt:
Tecnologas textiles precolombinas de los
Andes: relaciones entre tecnologa y constantes
estilsticas e iconogrficas en el Perodo
Intermedio Tardo 900-1350 d.C. fondecyt
n 1940091, 1994-1996. Investigador
responsable: Paulina Brugnoli.

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Fundacin
Familia Larran Echenique

Presidente
Juan de Dios Vial Correa

Secretaria
Cecilia Puga Larran

Tesorero
Hernn Rodrguez Villegas

Consejeros
Luis Riveros Cornejo
Rector de la Universidad de Chile

Pedro Rosso Rosso


Rector de la Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile

Ral Alcano Lihn


Alcalde de la Ilustre Municipalidad de Santiago

Clara Budnik Sinay


Directora de Bibliotecas, Archivos y Museos

Fernando Silva Vargas


Presidente de la Academia Chilena de Historia

Francisco Mena Larran

R.P. Gabriel Guarda Gewitz O.S.B.

Consejeros Honorarios
Mara Luisa Del Ro de Edwards
Luz Irarrzabal de Philippi
Mara Luisa Larran de Donoso

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Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

Director Recepcin
Carlos Aldunate del Solar Carmen Luz Lagos Dougnac
Mara Teresa Flores Labra
Subdirector
Francisco Mena Larran Tienda
Carolina Blanco Vidal
Curador Jefe
Claudia Guzmn Ojeda
Jos Berenguer Rodrguez
Daniela Herrera Valenzuela
Conservadora
Pilar Alliende Estvez Exposicin
Chim: Laberintos de un Traje Sagrado
Jefa Administrativa
Julia Arriagada Palma Curadura
Pilar Alliende Estvez
Relacionadora Pblica Jos Berenguer Rodrguez
Luisa Eyzaguirre Letelier Luis Cornejo Bustamante
Muselogo Hernn Chuaqui Kutten
Jos Prez de Arce Antoncich Jos Prez de Arce Antoncich
Carole Sinclaire Aguirre
Curadura Andrea Torres Vergara
Luis Cornejo Bustamante
Carole Sinclaire Aguirre Museografa y Diseo
Jos Prez de Arce Antoncich
Conservacin eneo Diseo:
Mara Victoria Carvajal Campusano Alejandro Breuer Narvez
rica Ramrez Rosales Rodrigo Costa Maluk
Andrs Rosales Zbinden
Luis Solar Labra Diseo y Produccin de Vitrina y Soporte
Alfredo Irarrrzabal Chadwick
Registro de Colecciones
Varinia Varela Guarda Montaje
Mara Victoria Carvajal Campusano
Area Audiovisual Luis Solar Labra
Francisco Gallardo Ibez rika Ramrez Rosales
Claudio Mercado Muoz Andrs Rosales Zbinden
Educacin Colaboracin Montaje
Rebeca Assael Mitnik Mara de los ngeles Callejas Domnguez
Sara Vargas Nieto Beatrice Roche
Nancy Valdivia Salas
Biblioteca
Marcela Enrquez Bello Diseo Grfico
Isabel Carrasco Painefil Carlos Muoz Costas
Administracin Audiovisuales
Mnica Marn Schmidt (Secretaria) Francisco Gallardo Ibez
Erika Doering Araya (Contadora) Claudio Mercado Muoz
Ral Padilla Izamit (Junior) Andrea Torres Vergara
Guillermo Restelli Valdivia (Mantencin)

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La realizacin de la exposicin y el
catlogo cont con la importante
colaboracin de las siguientes personas:

Luis Guillermo Lumbreras


Director, Instituto Nacional de Cultura, Per

Elas Mjica B., Per

Bertha Vargas V.
Instituto Nacional de Cultura, Per

Santiago Uceda C.
Proyecto Arqueolgico Huacas del Sol
y de la Luna, Per

Ricardo Morales G.
Proyecto Arqueolgico Huacas del Sol
y de la Luna, Per

Lutgarda Reyes A.
Directora, Instituto Nacional de Cultura,
Regional La Libertad, Per

Arturo Paredes N.
Instituto Nacional de Cultura,
Regional La Libertad, Per

Marcos Peralta
Instituto Nacional de Cultura,
Regional La Libertad, Per

Csar Glvez M.
Instituto Nacional de cultura
Regional La Libertad, Per

Elena Vega D.
Directora, Museo de Sitio, Chan Chan, Trujillo

Edmund Wyndhan S.
Departamento de Fsica, Facultad de Fsica,
Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile

Rafael Benguria D.
Departamento de Fsica, Facultad de Fsica,
Pontificia Universidad Catlica de Chile

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Editores Traduccin al ingls
Luis E. Cornejo B. Ed Shaw
Carole Sinclaire A.
Diseo y produccin
Autores Tesis dg
El Valor de un Objeto Invaluable www.tesisdg.cl
The Value of an Invaluable Object Carolina Garca G.
Luis E. Cornejo B. Jos Neira D.
El Reino del Chimor Impresin
The Kingdom of Chimor Quebecor World Chile
Jos Berenguer R.
Fotografas de Piezas
El Traje Ceremonial en el Contexto Fernando Maldonado R.
de la Textilera Chim Luis Solar L. (mchap 3367, pp: 13
The Ceremonial Costume in the y mchap 3374, pp: 19)
Context of Chim Textile Traditons
Carole Sinclaire A. Fotografas de Laboratorio
Andrea Torres V.
Un Jardn en el Desierto: La Metfora Archivo mchap
A Garden in the Desert: A Metaphor
Luis E. Cornejo B. Fotografas de Terreno
Luis E. Cornejo B.
Desafos Expositivos Carole Sinclaire A. (Pp: 23, 24 y 33)
Challenges in Preparing the Exhibition
Pilar Alliende E.
Hernn Chuaqui K.
Jos Prez de Arce A.
Andrea Torres V.

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino


Bandera 361/Casilla 3687
www.museoprecolombino.cl

Santiago de Chile
Noviembre 2005
Inscripcin Registro de
Propiedad Intelectual No. 150953
isbn 956-243-050-2

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