Bag Possibly 1476 - 1532

This woven bag was made by the Inca people, its surface alive with symbols. At first glance, the crosses stand out—motifs that resonate far beyond the Andes. These aren't merely Christian symbols. They evoke an ancient reaching for the cardinal directions, and a connection between the earthly and celestial realms. Consider the swastika, too, a symbol that once signified cosmic motion and well-being, before its tragic appropriation in Europe. Here, these crosses could have similarly carried different meanings: a sacred emblem, perhaps, woven into the very fabric of daily life. Such symbols, whether intentionally or subconsciously, remind us of humanity's deep-seated need to orient itself within the cosmos. They tap into primal emotions and ancestral memories, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.