GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The carved stone images Olmec kings wore on their foreheads and chests projected supernatural power. This small, carved greenstone pendant in the shape of a coiled serpent would have originally been suspended from a necklace or brooch as indicated by the smaller drilled hole at the top of the figure. The serpent is depicted with the head at the top, with lightly incised lines indicating its facial features and scaly skin. The tail of the serpent is shown in a long coil or spiral. Objects such as these often accompanied the king on his journey through death to the otherworld.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2015.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1968.20], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Getty Vocabulary, AAT (pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002).
NOTES
- Olmec, Middle Formative period, 900–500 B.C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 10/16/13, 03/14/16, and 03/21/16.
- Fun Facts Source: TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Remarks.
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Olmec: AAT: 300017051
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Puebla (state): TGN: 7005592
Process/materials
greenstone (rock): AAT: 300386691
stone: AAT: 300011176
carving: AAT: 300053149
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
incising: AAT: 300053847
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
Historical periods
Middle Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016973
Preclassic (Archaic / Formative / Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016967
Formative Period (Preclassic): AAT: 300016973
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
green (color): AAT: 300128438
spirals (geometric figures): ATT: 300163114
serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d.: excavated at Las Bocas, Puebla, Mexico [1]
Until 1969: Teochita, Inc., New York [1]
1969-2000: Juanita K. Bromberg, Dallas, purchased from the above March 1969 [1], [2]
From 2000: Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts, The Alfred and Juanita Bromberg Collection, bequest of Juanita K. Bromberg [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance was existing provenance information in TMS. No other supporting information found in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object Files. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Juanita K. Bromberg (dated November 02, 1999, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit corporation created as a title-holding entity to serve the people of Dallas but to operate independently of the City. The Dallas Museum of Art (at its own cost) is responsible for the care, storage, insurance, conservation and maintenance of the collection, and agrees to maintain the highest museum standards in the management and handling of the Foundation’s collection. The title to all works of art purchased or otherwise acquired by the Foundation for the Arts is retained by the Foundation.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- A modern thread was attached for suspension.
TEACHING IDEAS
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Apply to objects where number equals 2000.233.FA
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General Description
The carved stone images Olmec kings wore on their foreheads and chests projected supernatural power. This small, carved greenstone pendant in the shape of a coiled serpent would have originally been suspended from a necklace or brooch as indicated by the smaller drilled hole at the top of the figure. The serpent is depicted with the head at the top, with lightly incised lines indicating its facial features and scaly skin. The tail of the serpent is shown in a long coil or spiral. Objects such as these often accompanied the king on his journey through death to the otherworld.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2015.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1968.20], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Getty Vocabulary, AAT (pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002).
Fun Facts
- A modern thread was attached for suspension.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Olmec, Middle Formative period, 900–500 B.C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 10/16/13, 03/14/16, and 03/21/16.
- Fun Facts Source: TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Remarks.
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Olmec: AAT: 300017051
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Puebla (state): TGN: 7005592
Process/materials
greenstone (rock): AAT: 300386691
stone: AAT: 300011176
carving: AAT: 300053149
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
incising: AAT: 300053847
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
Historical periods
Middle Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016973
Preclassic (Archaic / Formative / Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016967
Formative Period (Preclassic): AAT: 300016973
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
green (color): AAT: 300128438
spirals (geometric figures): ATT: 300163114
serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d.: excavated at Las Bocas, Puebla, Mexico [1]
Until 1969: Teochita, Inc., New York [1]
1969-2000: Juanita K. Bromberg, Dallas, purchased from the above March 1969 [1], [2]
From 2000: Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts, The Alfred and Juanita Bromberg Collection, bequest of Juanita K. Bromberg [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance was existing provenance information in TMS. No other supporting information found in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object Files. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Juanita K. Bromberg (dated November 02, 1999, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit corporation created as a title-holding entity to serve the people of Dallas but to operate independently of the City. The Dallas Museum of Art (at its own cost) is responsible for the care, storage, insurance, conservation and maintenance of the collection, and agrees to maintain the highest museum standards in the management and handling of the Foundation’s collection. The title to all works of art purchased or otherwise acquired by the Foundation for the Arts is retained by the Foundation.
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