Provenance: The Merrin Gallery, New York, 1986. 
Collection Barbier-Mueller, Geneva, Inv. no. 532-40
Collection Barbier-Meuller; sold Sotheby's, Paris, 22-23 March 2013, lot 95.

Bibliography: Arte pre-colombiana da colecçao Barbier-Mueller, 1995 pl.105 
Ritual Arts of the New World: Pre-Columbian America 2000 cat.107 p.342 
La Collection Barbier-Mueller, Art Précolombien Vol. II p.140 fig.284.

Exhibited: Lisbon, Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Arte pré-colombiana da colecçao Barbier-Mueller 23 March - 4 June 1995

Note: The pectoral would have been a high status symbol and something made only for the elite of Nazca society whether civil, political or religious. 

In Pre-Hispanic Peru textiles were very important in society. From ancient times the people had access to good raw materials; cotton and the wool of lamas and alpacas in a variety of colours. This was also the time before currency in the form of money had been introduced so beautifully made textiles became the preferred objects for barter, gifts and as offerings.