Stitched on a tunic between 1450 and 1550 CE, this stunned feline figure adorned a high-status man of the Chimu peoples in Peru's Andes Mountains. As Met intern Maximillion A. Alegria wrote in 2024, this feline figure and its companions "suggest that this shirt was made in a later period of Chimú weaving, perhaps just after the Kingdom of Chimor fell to Inca forces in the late 15th century. The theme of menacing felines, with their prominent claws, pointed ears, and curled tails, is less common than maritime subjects in Chimú textiles. Felines are often considered a symbol of political power in the ancient Americas, and the repetition of felines in a rampant or threatening position may have served an apotropaic function, that is, it may have been thought to have protective qualities."

Our "Museums" line features Open Access works from major museums around the world, bringing history into your home. These works of art hail from all corners of the globe, once gracing the lives of ancient people - whether as ceilings, floors, wall paintings, clothing, or portable objects. Some you may recognize, while others you may not. Each is reviewed by our university-trained curator and lovingly restored to reflect as authentic a view into the past as possible. Product types are limited to those that best reflect each work's original intent and design. All works are reviewed for Open Access permissions.

"Chimu Cat" is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City under Open Access.