1976.W.523 Reptile (Colombia, Muisca)

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. Reptiles or snakes are a common theme among the cultures of Intermediate Central America, especially among Muisca votive objects. Many of the snakes feature whiskers on their heads, as in this example. This reptile displays a fanged, open mouth with bifurcated tongue and is flattened and undecorated on the reverse as is common among these types of offerings. For many peoples of the ancient Americas, reptiles and snakes were likely mythic figures. A common belief was that mythical ancestors in the form of snakes lived among lakes and required offerings. 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.

Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980

Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422

Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986

Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050

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

votive offerings: AAT: 300178244

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

portable: AAT: 300256252

figures (representations): AAT: 300189808

animals: DMA

reptiles: AAT: 300265956

serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870

fangs (teeth): DMA

tongue (animal or human components): DMA

bifurcated (two branches or parts / forked): DMA

whiskers (facial hairstyle): AAT: 300379274

barbed wire: AAT: 300011064

tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627

lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279

zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028

water: AAT: 300011772

lakes (bodies of water): AAT: 300008680

mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725

deities: AAT: 300343850

offering (tribute / payment / economic concepts /social science concepts): DMA

supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947

power: AAT: 300374809

Bogotá (Colombia): TGN: 7005070

shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244

symmetry: AAT: 300056249

miniature (size): AAT: 300121995

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.

Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.523