Dolls Possibly 1476 - 1984

This textile bag with three attached dolls was created by an artist or artisan from the Chancay culture of ancient Peru. The Chancay people, who flourished between 1000 and 1450 AD, were exceptionally skilled weavers. These dolls are not mere playthings; they offer a glimpse into the Chancay's worldview, social structure, and spiritual beliefs. Often found in burial sites, similar dolls may have served as companions for the deceased, or perhaps as representations of ancestors. The coarse, unrefined textile hints at a utilitarian, everyday context, reflecting the lives of ordinary people. The figures, with their carefully crafted faces and simply adorned bodies, speak to the Chancay’s unique artistic style and their complex relationship with death and the afterlife. The bag, like a vessel, carries not just physical items but also the weight of cultural memory and personal stories. It serves as a tangible link to a society where art and life were deeply intertwined.