GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The pre-Hispanic goldwork of Colombia is traditionally classified by archaeological zones, or regions, each with stylistic associations, varying in iconography and technology: Muisca in the central highlands southeast of Bogotá; Zenú (Sinú) and Tairona in northwestern Colombia; and in the southwest, Quimbaya, Calima, Tolima, and Nariño. The richly varied works were primarily objects of personal adornment. Pendants, headdress elements, pectorals, bracelets, anklets, and nose and ear ornaments probably functioned as ceremonial regalia for elite men. In contrast, however, Muisca gold objects consist primarily of votive offerings. Muisca gold objects were usually comprised of a concentrated copper-gold alloy, known as tumbaga, and created by lost-wax casting. Objects often had multiple parts, and the surface was often left unpolished. Since the Muisca region lacked a source of gold, they traded other precious materials to acquire the metal.
Muisca votive offerings (tunjos) depict a wide range of human and animal figures. The majority bear similar characteristics being flat and plaque-like in shape, and most feature human figures—whose sex is indicated, engaged in daily activities—often holding various ritual objects. Male figures are commonly depicted with weapons or coca paraphernalia. Votive offerings such as these are commonly found in lakes or buried in groups. Many gold objects and other offerings have been found in Lake Guatavita, located in the Muisca region north of the present capital of Colombia, Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Drawn from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 33.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Headdress ornament with heads flanked by crested crocodiles (1976.W.319)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 34.
- Carol Robbins, "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1997), 178.
- "Three Serpents (Tunjos) (1979.206.740, 1992.92.1-2)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.740,1992.92.1,2/. (August 2009).
- "Female Figure (tunjo) (1979.206.1050)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.1050/. (August 2009).
NOTES
Muisca, 1200, NOT updated by KJones in TMS; no period noted.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986
Geography
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
annealing: AAT: 300053886
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
casting (process): AAT: 300053104
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
solder: AAT: 300010993
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
Lost-wax process: AAT: 300053113
tumbaga: AAT: 300248834
filigree: AAT: 300220293
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
votive offerings: AAT: 300178244
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
portable: AAT: 300256252
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
standing: AAT: 300239500
nude: AAT: 300189568
conical (shape): AAT: 300378897
headdresses: AAT: 300046023
earspools: AAT: 300209300
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
spirals (geometric figures): AAT: 300163114
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
scepters: AAT: 300214161
staffs (staff weapon components): AAT: 300204653
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
water: AAT: 300011772
lakes (bodies of water): AAT: 300008680
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
offering (tribute / payment / economic concepts /social science concepts): DMA
power: AAT: 300374809
Bogotá (Colombia): TGN: 7005070
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
plaque (flat objects): AAT: 300010262
miniature (size): AAT: 300121995
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.675
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
The pre-Hispanic goldwork of Colombia is traditionally classified by archaeological zones, or regions, each with stylistic associations, varying in iconography and technology: Muisca in the central highlands southeast of Bogotá; Zenú (Sinú) and Tairona in northwestern Colombia; and in the southwest, Quimbaya, Calima, Tolima, and Nariño. The richly varied works were primarily objects of personal adornment. Pendants, headdress elements, pectorals, bracelets, anklets, and nose and ear ornaments probably functioned as ceremonial regalia for elite men. In contrast, however, Muisca gold objects consist primarily of votive offerings. Muisca gold objects were usually comprised of a concentrated copper-gold alloy, known as tumbaga, and created by lost-wax casting. Objects often had multiple parts, and the surface was often left unpolished. Since the Muisca region lacked a source of gold, they traded other precious materials to acquire the metal.
Muisca votive offerings (tunjos) depict a wide range of human and animal figures. The majority bear similar characteristics being flat and plaque-like in shape, and most feature human figures—whose sex is indicated, engaged in daily activities—often holding various ritual objects. Male figures are commonly depicted with weapons or coca paraphernalia. Votive offerings such as these are commonly found in lakes or buried in groups. Many gold objects and other offerings have been found in Lake Guatavita, located in the Muisca region north of the present capital of Colombia, Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Drawn from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 33.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Headdress ornament with heads flanked by crested crocodiles (1976.W.319)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 34.
- Carol Robbins, "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1997), 178.
- "Three Serpents (Tunjos) (1979.206.740, 1992.92.1-2)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.740,1992.92.1,2/. (August 2009).
- "Female Figure (tunjo) (1979.206.1050)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.1050/. (August 2009).
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Muisca, 1200, NOT updated by KJones in TMS; no period noted.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986
Geography
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
annealing: AAT: 300053886
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
casting (process): AAT: 300053104
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
solder: AAT: 300010993
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
Lost-wax process: AAT: 300053113
tumbaga: AAT: 300248834
filigree: AAT: 300220293
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
votive offerings: AAT: 300178244
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
portable: AAT: 300256252
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
standing: AAT: 300239500
nude: AAT: 300189568
conical (shape): AAT: 300378897
headdresses: AAT: 300046023
earspools: AAT: 300209300
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
spirals (geometric figures): AAT: 300163114
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
scepters: AAT: 300214161
staffs (staff weapon components): AAT: 300204653
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
water: AAT: 300011772
lakes (bodies of water): AAT: 300008680
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
offering (tribute / payment / economic concepts /social science concepts): DMA
power: AAT: 300374809
Bogotá (Colombia): TGN: 7005070
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
plaque (flat objects): AAT: 300010262
miniature (size): AAT: 300121995
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
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1976.W.675
source file
object_notes_3_a-0611.xml.nores