GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Mimbres potters developed one of the Southwest’s most appealing painting styles, distinguished by geometric compositions and narrative imagery that provides an eloquent record of Mimbres life. The painting on many Mimbres vessels suggests concepts of sacred space or cosmic geography. The edge of the bowl may have marked the boundary of an orderly world, while the center space, often empty and white, may refer to the Earth Center. Here two delicate spirals emanate from that center. The crosses suggest the four cardinal directions, and the jagged, angular forms convey the dynamic tension of lightning in a darkened sky.
Adapted from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Bowl with geometric design (1982.94)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 55.
- DMA Label Copy, 1993.
NOTES
- Mogollon culture, Mimbres people, c. 1000-1150 (noted on TMS).
- Noted in TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Other (see remarks). Provenance Note: The private collection noted is that of Anthony Berlant, California. The main source for this provenance is Catalogue Worksheet and Acquisition Record (dated December 02, 1982, copies in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential).
- Fun Facts Sources: TMS, Notes/Text Entries, Attribution, data entered by Natalie Davis, 9/20/1995; TMS, Notes/Curatorial Remarks, Kathy Windrow, September 1992.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Mogollon: AAT: 300016929
Mimbres: AAT: 300016943
Southwestern North American styles (Pre-Columbian): AAT: 300016920
Geography
New Mexico (state): TGN: 7007566
Southwest (general region): TGN: 4010660
Mogollon Mountains (mountains): TGN: 1109357
Mimbres (river): TGN: 1127171
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
slip (clay): AAT: 300010459
slip glaze: AAT: 300015110
glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914
incising: AAT: 300053847
burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
Mimbres Black-on-white (ceramic type / Southwestern North American style): AAT: 300016945
iron ore: AAT: 300379991
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
bowls (vessels): AAT: 300203596
white (color): AAT: 300129784
red (color): AAAT: 300126225
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028
spirals (geometric figures): AAT: 300163114
cardinal directions (compass points): AAT: 300078457
lightning: AAT: 300068795
myth: AAT: 300201023
cosmology (cosmological / disciplines): AAT: 300054294
sacred space: DMA
cosmic diagram (cosmos / cosmic geography / cosmic landscape): DMA
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1982: Private collection, California [1], [2]
From 1982: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Martin Matyas, Bob Rheudasil and Mrs. Edward S. Marcus in honor of Edward S. Marcus, purchased from the above through Amerind Art, Inc. (Tony Berlant) [1], [3], [4]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Catalogue Worksheet and Acquisition Record (dated dated December 02, 1982, copies in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] See Collections Records Digital Object File.
[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
[4] 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
- Named on "American Indian and Northwest Coast Top Ten List" (August 6, 1992), Steven A. LeBlanc, former curator at the Southwest Museum at Los Angeles.
- This bowl stands out as masterwork in a distinguished collection of ceramics from the prehistoric Indian cultures of the Southwest. It appears reddish-brown due to oxidation which occurred during firing, and is an example of the early style probably dating to just around 1000 CE.
TEACHING IDEAS
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Apply to objects where number equals 1982.94
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General Description
Mimbres potters developed one of the Southwest’s most appealing painting styles, distinguished by geometric compositions and narrative imagery that provides an eloquent record of Mimbres life. The painting on many Mimbres vessels suggests concepts of sacred space or cosmic geography. The edge of the bowl may have marked the boundary of an orderly world, while the center space, often empty and white, may refer to the Earth Center. Here two delicate spirals emanate from that center. The crosses suggest the four cardinal directions, and the jagged, angular forms convey the dynamic tension of lightning in a darkened sky.
Adapted from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Bowl with geometric design (1982.94)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 55.
- DMA Label Copy, 1993.
Fun Facts
- Named on "American Indian and Northwest Coast Top Ten List" (August 6, 1992), Steven A. LeBlanc, former curator at the Southwest Museum at Los Angeles.
- This bowl stands out as masterwork in a distinguished collection of ceramics from the prehistoric Indian cultures of the Southwest. It appears reddish-brown due to oxidation which occurred during firing, and is an example of the early style probably dating to just around 1000 CE.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Mogollon culture, Mimbres people, c. 1000-1150 (noted on TMS).
- Noted in TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Other (see remarks). Provenance Note: The private collection noted is that of Anthony Berlant, California. The main source for this provenance is Catalogue Worksheet and Acquisition Record (dated December 02, 1982, copies in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential).
- Fun Facts Sources: TMS, Notes/Text Entries, Attribution, data entered by Natalie Davis, 9/20/1995; TMS, Notes/Curatorial Remarks, Kathy Windrow, September 1992.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Mogollon: AAT: 300016929
Mimbres: AAT: 300016943
Southwestern North American styles (Pre-Columbian): AAT: 300016920
Geography
New Mexico (state): TGN: 7007566
Southwest (general region): TGN: 4010660
Mogollon Mountains (mountains): TGN: 1109357
Mimbres (river): TGN: 1127171
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
slip (clay): AAT: 300010459
slip glaze: AAT: 300015110
glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914
incising: AAT: 300053847
burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
Mimbres Black-on-white (ceramic type / Southwestern North American style): AAT: 300016945
iron ore: AAT: 300379991
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
bowls (vessels): AAT: 300203596
white (color): AAT: 300129784
red (color): AAAT: 300126225
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028
spirals (geometric figures): AAT: 300163114
cardinal directions (compass points): AAT: 300078457
lightning: AAT: 300068795
myth: AAT: 300201023
cosmology (cosmological / disciplines): AAT: 300054294
sacred space: DMA
cosmic diagram (cosmos / cosmic geography / cosmic landscape): DMA
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1982: Private collection, California [1], [2]
From 1982: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Martin Matyas, Bob Rheudasil and Mrs. Edward S. Marcus in honor of Edward S. Marcus, purchased from the above through Amerind Art, Inc. (Tony Berlant) [1], [3], [4]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Catalogue Worksheet and Acquisition Record (dated dated December 02, 1982, copies in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] See Collections Records Digital Object File.
[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
[4] 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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