Document Actions

Rarity & antiquity

The combination of rarity and antiquity imbues the textile with value particularly through the style of its iconography. Examples of this include highly-valued textiles such as Paracas, Wari, Chimú and Chancay, as well as those of the Late Horizon or Inca Period. Such value also depends on the shifting fashions of the international market in ethnic art.

The rarity, antiquity, provenance and styles of Andean textiles have been important considerations in the acquisition of textiles by museums around the world, reinforcing particular ideas of textile heritage in the global art market.