GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Among the societies of Central America, gold ornaments were important symbols of power and prestige that expressed authority and status in life and in death. Made to be suspended around the neck, gold pendants were still worn by local inhabitants of the Caribbean coast when Europeans encountered them at the turn of the 16th century. The image on this gold pendant is flattened and bilaterally symmetrical for maximum decorative effect. Although only partially visible from the front, suspension loops are located on each side at the base of the head—craftsmen thus cleverly adapted the natural forms of totemic creatures to the functional demands of this jewelry.
Frogs, birds, and alligators were likely mythic figures, as in South America. For many peoples of the ancient Americas, frogs, like other amphibians, were also symbols of fertility and life, associated both with the underworld from which they emerge and water in which they live. The delicate lip of gold on the underside of this frog's mouth may represent a water symbol. Frogs were intercessors between water and land, and when represented in gold, such as this example, they are even more powerful.
Adapted from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Pendant with two frogs (1976.W.292), Pendant bell depicting a turtle (1976.W.301), Pendant depicting a batlike mask (1976.W.237)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 35.
- Anne R. Bromberg, Dallas Museum of Art: Selected Works (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1983), 45.
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1976.W.298; 1976.W.297; 1976.W.292], A. H. Meadows Galleries.
NOTES
- Veraguas, 800–1200 C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 03/25/16, 03/30/16, and 03/31/16; no period noted.
- Current label copy notes Panama: Veraguas-Greater Chiriquí style.
Cultures
Chiriquí (period): AAT: 300017239
Pre-Columbian Panamanian styles: AAT: 300017241
Veraguas (period): AAT: 300017240
Geography
Chiriquí (province): TGN: 1001201
Panama (nation): TGN: 7005565
Veraguas (province): TGN: 1001593
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
annealing: AAT: 300053886
casting: AAT: 300053104
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
solder: AAT: 300010993
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
frogs (animals): AAT: 300250018
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
power: AAT: 300374809
prestige: AAT: 300343604
social status: AAT: 300065206
deaths: AAT: 300151836
life (biological concepts): AAT: 300055134
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
myth: AAT: 300201023
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
fertility: AAT: 300379149
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
water: AAT: 300011772
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.288
Category
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General Description
Among the societies of Central America, gold ornaments were important symbols of power and prestige that expressed authority and status in life and in death. Made to be suspended around the neck, gold pendants were still worn by local inhabitants of the Caribbean coast when Europeans encountered them at the turn of the 16th century. The image on this gold pendant is flattened and bilaterally symmetrical for maximum decorative effect. Although only partially visible from the front, suspension loops are located on each side at the base of the head—craftsmen thus cleverly adapted the natural forms of totemic creatures to the functional demands of this jewelry.
Frogs, birds, and alligators were likely mythic figures, as in South America. For many peoples of the ancient Americas, frogs, like other amphibians, were also symbols of fertility and life, associated both with the underworld from which they emerge and water in which they live. The delicate lip of gold on the underside of this frog's mouth may represent a water symbol. Frogs were intercessors between water and land, and when represented in gold, such as this example, they are even more powerful.
Adapted from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Pendant with two frogs (1976.W.292), Pendant bell depicting a turtle (1976.W.301), Pendant depicting a batlike mask (1976.W.237)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 35.
- Anne R. Bromberg, Dallas Museum of Art: Selected Works (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1983), 45.
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1976.W.298; 1976.W.297; 1976.W.292], A. H. Meadows Galleries.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Veraguas, 800–1200 C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 03/25/16, 03/30/16, and 03/31/16; no period noted.
- Current label copy notes Panama: Veraguas-Greater Chiriquí style.
Cultures
Chiriquí (period): AAT: 300017239
Pre-Columbian Panamanian styles: AAT: 300017241
Veraguas (period): AAT: 300017240
Geography
Chiriquí (province): TGN: 1001201
Panama (nation): TGN: 7005565
Veraguas (province): TGN: 1001593
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
annealing: AAT: 300053886
casting: AAT: 300053104
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
solder: AAT: 300010993
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
frogs (animals): AAT: 300250018
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
power: AAT: 300374809
prestige: AAT: 300343604
social status: AAT: 300065206
deaths: AAT: 300151836
life (biological concepts): AAT: 300055134
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
myth: AAT: 300201023
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
fertility: AAT: 300379149
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
water: AAT: 300011772
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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1976.W.288
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object_notes_3_a-0351.xml.nores