GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The dense tropical rain forests in the lowlands of northern Ecuador were occupied by the Jama-Coaque culture from around 400 BCE to 500 CE. Although objects made of perishable materials were devoured by the moist forest floor, numerous mold made ceramic whistles, flutes, and rattles have been found, suggesting music played an important role in religious ceremonial life. Vessel forms were more complex than in earlier periods, and some have attached figures modeled in terra cotta and painted after firing. Traces of red, yellow, green, and white paint remain on this example.
Elaborately clothed figurines indicate the existence of a sophisticated textile industry, which must have produced fabric for daily wear as well as splendid costumes for the men who performed religious rites. This magnificent figure wears a feather costume described in lively incised and appliqued detail. A man of undeniable power, he may be a shaman-priest invoking the spirit of a mythological bird or other supernatural being. The figure is at once stylized and charged with life. Here, clarity of form, intensity of gesture, and liveliness of detail combine to produce a work of exceptional quality.
Excerpt from
Kathy Windrow, DMA unpublished material, 1992.
NOTES
Jama-Coaque, 1 - 500 CE (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on TMS, 04/11/16, 09/06/16, and 11/21/17.
Cultures
Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Pre-Columbian Ecuadorian styles and periods: AAT: 300017396
Ecuadorian (South American): AAT: 300178973
Jama-Coaque (Pre-Columbian Ecuadorian styles and periods): DMA
Geography
Ecuador (nation): TGN: 1000051
Jama-Coaque (mountain range / Ecuador): DMA
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
molding (forming): AAT: 300053134
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
terracotta: AAT: 300010669
applied decoration: AAT: 300229940
appliqué (technique): AAT: 300053646
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
figurine: AAT: 300047455
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
standing: AAT: 300239500
male: AAT: 300189559
men (male humans): AAT: 300025928
figures: AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
portrait: AAT: 300015637
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
effigies (general portraits): 300404933
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
face masks: AAT: 300262834
face paint (body art / visual works / adornment): DMA
headdresses: AAT: 300046023
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
bracelets (jewelry): AAT: 300045991
armbands: AAT: 300247490
beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006
skirts (garments / refrajo / corte): AAT: 300209932
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
funerary sculpture: AAT: 300184644
forests (cultural landscapes): AAT: 300008863
molds (shaping tools): AAT: 300024814
hollow (form attribute): AAT: 300163023
whistles (flutes (aerophones)): AAT: 300042706
flutes (aerophones / instrument): AAT: 300042513
rattles: AAT: 300041933
musical instruments: AAT: 300041620
music (discipline): AAT: 300054146
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
ceremonial sound devices: AAT: 300312157
ceremonies: AAT: 300054754
polychrome: AAT: 300252261
clothing: AAT: 300266639
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
costume: AAT: 300209261
feather (material): AAT: 300011809
feathers (animal components): AAT: 300400474
power: AAT: 300374809
spirit: AAT: 300379007
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
gesture: AAT: 300056179
cups (drinking vessels): AAT: 300043202
flower (motif): AAT: 300375563
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., purchased from Shango Galleries (John A. Buxton), Dallas [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated June 05, 1985, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1985.95.McD
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
The dense tropical rain forests in the lowlands of northern Ecuador were occupied by the Jama-Coaque culture from around 400 BCE to 500 CE. Although objects made of perishable materials were devoured by the moist forest floor, numerous mold made ceramic whistles, flutes, and rattles have been found, suggesting music played an important role in religious ceremonial life. Vessel forms were more complex than in earlier periods, and some have attached figures modeled in terra cotta and painted after firing. Traces of red, yellow, green, and white paint remain on this example.
Elaborately clothed figurines indicate the existence of a sophisticated textile industry, which must have produced fabric for daily wear as well as splendid costumes for the men who performed religious rites. This magnificent figure wears a feather costume described in lively incised and appliqued detail. A man of undeniable power, he may be a shaman-priest invoking the spirit of a mythological bird or other supernatural being. The figure is at once stylized and charged with life. Here, clarity of form, intensity of gesture, and liveliness of detail combine to produce a work of exceptional quality.
Excerpt from
Kathy Windrow, DMA unpublished material, 1992.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Jama-Coaque, 1 - 500 CE (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on TMS, 04/11/16, 09/06/16, and 11/21/17.
Cultures
Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Pre-Columbian Ecuadorian styles and periods: AAT: 300017396
Ecuadorian (South American): AAT: 300178973
Jama-Coaque (Pre-Columbian Ecuadorian styles and periods): DMA
Geography
Ecuador (nation): TGN: 1000051
Jama-Coaque (mountain range / Ecuador): DMA
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
molding (forming): AAT: 300053134
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
terracotta: AAT: 300010669
applied decoration: AAT: 300229940
appliqué (technique): AAT: 300053646
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
figurine: AAT: 300047455
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
standing: AAT: 300239500
male: AAT: 300189559
men (male humans): AAT: 300025928
figures: AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
portrait: AAT: 300015637
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
effigies (general portraits): 300404933
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
face masks: AAT: 300262834
face paint (body art / visual works / adornment): DMA
headdresses: AAT: 300046023
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
bracelets (jewelry): AAT: 300045991
armbands: AAT: 300247490
beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006
skirts (garments / refrajo / corte): AAT: 300209932
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
funerary sculpture: AAT: 300184644
forests (cultural landscapes): AAT: 300008863
molds (shaping tools): AAT: 300024814
hollow (form attribute): AAT: 300163023
whistles (flutes (aerophones)): AAT: 300042706
flutes (aerophones / instrument): AAT: 300042513
rattles: AAT: 300041933
musical instruments: AAT: 300041620
music (discipline): AAT: 300054146
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
ceremonial sound devices: AAT: 300312157
ceremonies: AAT: 300054754
polychrome: AAT: 300252261
clothing: AAT: 300266639
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
costume: AAT: 300209261
feather (material): AAT: 300011809
feathers (animal components): AAT: 300400474
power: AAT: 300374809
spirit: AAT: 300379007
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
gesture: AAT: 300056179
cups (drinking vessels): AAT: 300043202
flower (motif): AAT: 300375563
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., purchased from Shango Galleries (John A. Buxton), Dallas [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated June 05, 1985, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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number
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1985.95.McD
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object_notes_3_a-0601.xml.nores