HALPHEN (Georges). Feathers of Eternity - Lot 120

HALPHEN (Georges). Feathers of Eternity Paris, Maison de l'Amérique Latine / Somogy Éditions d'Art, circa 2001. A major work devoted to one of the most remarkable collections of pre-Columbian textiles and funerary ornaments held in private hands. Bringing together the major pieces from the Georges Halphen collection, this volume highlights the extraordinary technical and artistic mastery of the ancient Peruvian coastal civilizations, notably Paracas, Nazca, Wari, and Chimú. Through a rich collection of headdresses, masks, banners, ceremonial cloaks, and ornaments made of polychrome feathers, the book reveals the symbolic importance of these rare materials associated with funerary rites and beliefs related to immortality. The vibrant colors, which have remained intact despite the passage of centuries, attest to some of the most refined textile craftsmanship in the pre-Columbian world. Richly illustrated in color, this catalog serves as a reference for the study of Andean funerary art and the textile arts of Ancient Peru. Large quarto, numerous color reproductions.