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. This pair of gold and greenstone ear rods would have originally been worn through a hold pierced in the lobe of the ear and features highly polished, delicate finals terminating on both ends. Though their exact meaning is unknown, gold objects such as these were likely worn on ceremonial occasions, and would have created a dazzling golden image.
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.
- Carol Robbins, "Pendant depicting a figure with batlike mask (1976.W.237)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1997), 181.
- "Pectoral Disk (Patena) (1977.187.28)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1977.187.28/. (August 2009).
NOTES
Cocle, Period V - Period VI, 700–1100 C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 03/25/16, 03/30/16, 03/31/16, and 04/05/17.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Coclé (Pre-Columbian Panamanian styles): AAT: 300017242
Pre-Columbian Panamanian styles: AAT: 300017241
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Geography
Coclé (province): TGN: 1001207
Gran Coclé (area): TGN: 8697951
Panama (nation): TGN: 7005565
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
greenstone (rock): AAT: 300386691
casting (process): AAT: 300053104
annealing: AAT: 300053886
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
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279
ornaments: AAT: 300266794
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
decorating (process): AAT: 300056257
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
circular (shape): AAT: 300263827
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
bands (decorative): DMA
raised (form attribute): AAT: 300010354
relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
power: AAT: 300374809
prestige: AAT: 300343604
authority (concepts): DMA
social status: AAT: 300065206
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
duality (concepts): DMA
finials: AAT: 300002280
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 letter from A.L. Woodman, Chief of Valuation Analysis Section of the Internal Revenue Service, to Harry S. Parker, Director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (dated July 23, 1979, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). 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
- These ear rods were featured in the World of Ancient Gold exhibit at the New York's World's Fair, Travel and Transportation Pavilion (April 22-October 18, 1964).
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.248.A-B
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. This pair of gold and greenstone ear rods would have originally been worn through a hold pierced in the lobe of the ear and features highly polished, delicate finals terminating on both ends. Though their exact meaning is unknown, gold objects such as these were likely worn on ceremonial occasions, and would have created a dazzling golden image.
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.
- Carol Robbins, "Pendant depicting a figure with batlike mask (1976.W.237)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1997), 181.
- "Pectoral Disk (Patena) (1977.187.28)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1977.187.28/. (August 2009).
Fun Facts
- These ear rods were featured in the World of Ancient Gold exhibit at the New York's World's Fair, Travel and Transportation Pavilion (April 22-October 18, 1964).
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Cocle, Period V - Period VI, 700–1100 C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 03/25/16, 03/30/16, 03/31/16, and 04/05/17.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Coclé (Pre-Columbian Panamanian styles): AAT: 300017242
Pre-Columbian Panamanian styles: AAT: 300017241
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Geography
Coclé (province): TGN: 1001207
Gran Coclé (area): TGN: 8697951
Panama (nation): TGN: 7005565
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
greenstone (rock): AAT: 300386691
casting (process): AAT: 300053104
annealing: AAT: 300053886
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
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279
ornaments: AAT: 300266794
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
decorating (process): AAT: 300056257
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
circular (shape): AAT: 300263827
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
bands (decorative): DMA
raised (form attribute): AAT: 300010354
relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
power: AAT: 300374809
prestige: AAT: 300343604
authority (concepts): DMA
social status: AAT: 300065206
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
duality (concepts): DMA
finials: AAT: 300002280
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 letter from A.L. Woodman, Chief of Valuation Analysis Section of the Internal Revenue Service, to Harry S. Parker, Director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (dated July 23, 1979, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). 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.248.A-B
source file
object_notes_3_a-0663.xml.nores