Loincloth
1425–1500
- Medium
- cotton; plain weave, brocaded and complex alternating gauze with 5 shots of plain weave between gauze shots
- Dimensions
- Overall: 151.1 x 57.2 cm (59 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.); Mounted: 167.6 x 71.1 cm (66 x 28 in.)
- Genre
- garment
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
About
Loincloths were basic men’s wear in ancient Peru. But the extraordinary size of some examples—this one is about eight feet long, unfolded—makes it difficult to know how they were worn, except that they were tied around the waist with the decorated panels hanging at the front and back of the body. The appearance may have been that of a billowing skirt.