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Object Timeline
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2014 |
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2024 |
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Quipu (Peru)
This is a Quipu.
This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from National Museum of Natural History as part of Tools: Extending Our Reach.
Long associated with the Inca, the quipu came to play an integral role in the expansion and administration of the Inca empire during the mid-fifteenth century. Consisting of a main cord and attached strings with knots, quipus were used as recording devices. They varied in size from main cords only 30 cm (1 ft.) long, with a few strings, to examples more than 1 m (1 yd.) long, with hundreds of strings. The knots on subsidiary strings represent decimal units, which recorded census information linked to the collection of taxes from local communities. Such taxes were imposed in the form of labor on public works, military duty, or service to administrators. Different color cords were common and helped the quipu keeper to recall the significance of the recorded numbers. Quipus were also used as memory aids by official historians and genealogists.
It is credited Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, A365240.
- Wristband, Jawbone UP24
- hypoallergenic tpu rubber, nickel-plated tr-90 nylon, electronic components.
- Courtesy of Yves Béhar and fuseproject.
- s-e-1597
- Square (Egypt)
- warp: s-spun linen; wefts: s-spun linen, s-spun wool.
- Gift of John Pierpont Morgan.
- 1902-1-116
- Hanging (USA)
- nylon fishing line.
- Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund.
- 1996-6-1
Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Netted Textile (Peru)
- maguey fiber.
- Museum purchase through gift of Marie Torrance Hadden.
- 1947-31-2
- Sling (Peru)
- maguey fibers.
- Museum purchase through gift of Marie Torrance Hadden.
- 1947-31-1
- Natural Sound Stereo Cassette Deck TC-800D Audio Tape Player
- abs plastic, metal, electronics.
- Gift of John W. Fell.
- 1993-103-1
Its dimensions are
Primary cord length: 240 cm (7 ft. 10 1/2 in.); length of pendants about 40 cm (15 3/4 in.) to maximum of 58 cm (22 7/8 in.)
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Tools: Extending Our Reach.
