“Threads and Themes of The Stories We Wear

with Textile Dr. Anne Tiballi, PhD, Andean Archaeologist, and Director of Academic Engagement, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Showcasing 2,500 years of style and adornment through approximately 250 remarkable objects, the new exhibition “The Stories We Wear” at the Penn Museum reveals how clothing and accessories offer powerful expressions of identity—examining the purpose and meaning behind what we wear.  In concert with the theme of the exhibition, this program will use the diverse textile and clothing collections at the Museum to explore how what we wear tells a story about ourselves: our class, gender, religion, social roles, and status. Approaching the collections from an archaeological perspective, Dr. Anne Tiballi, consultant for the exhibition, will dig deep into several of the exhibitions ‘outfits’, making connections between the technological skill, creativity, and cultural significance of the peoples who made and wore them.  Among the items she will discuss include a Pre-Columbian Andean warp-patterned tunic, headband, and bag; a Qing Dynasty Chinese court costume; and Early 20th century coconut fiber armor from Kiribati, a Mongolian silk deel and boots, and a Hopi wedding dress. 

Anne Tiballi is the Director of Academic Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Anne received her PhD in Andean archaeology from Binghamton University, and conducted her dissertation research at the Penn Museum on the Cemetery of the Sacrificed Women at Pachacamac, Peru. Her research interests center on human interactions with technology, craft production and identity, and textile analysis. As Director of Academic Engagement, Anne works collaboratively with museum staff and university faculty to devise novel and effective ways to incorporate the Museum’s collections into the curriculum.