2008.77 Pendant with frontal face (Maya, Mexico or Guatemala)



GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Jade and other greenstones were the most precious materials for the ancient Maya, equivalent to emeralds and diamonds in Western culture. Not only was jade carved into beads that functioned as both jewelry and currency, but this lustrous material was also carved into magical objects that were alive with soul-force and, thus, either useful or potentially harmful.

The carved images kings wore on their foreheads and chests projected supernatural power. This carved jadeite pendant with frontal face would have originally been suspended from a necklace or brooch by the holes at the back. The figure wears either a headdress or knotted hairstyle. The pendant may be unfinished as the facial features are only slightly indicated by incised lines, with the eyes and nose being the most pronounced.

Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.

Drawn from
  • Carol Robbins, Label text [1968.20], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
  • Carol Robbins, Label text [1973.46], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
  • Getty Vocabulary, AAT (pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002).

NOTES
  • Maya, Late Classic, 600–900 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13.
  • Part of same accession (2008.74-90); share 1 object file (2 folders); 2008.77 has individual TMS object record.

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Maya: AAT: 300017826
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099

Geography 
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Guatemala (nation): TGN: 7005493

Process/materials
jadeite (mineral): AAT: 300011121
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211

Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986

Individuals

Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
green (color): AAT: 300128438
figures: AAT: 300189808
head: AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
face: DMA
male: AAT: 300189559
headdress: AAT: 300046023
hairstyles: AAT: 300262903
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
precious (concept / condition): DMA

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 
Until d. 2007: Jerry L. Abramson (d. 2007), Dallas [1], [2], [3]

From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, given in memory of Jerry L. Abramson by his estate [1], [2], [3]

[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, to Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated December 22, 2008, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The main source for this provenance is receipt and release form signed by Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, and Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[3] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

WEB RESOURCES 

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2008.77





Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Jade and other greenstones were the most precious materials for the ancient Maya, equivalent to emeralds and diamonds in Western culture. Not only was jade carved into beads that functioned as both jewelry and currency, but this lustrous material was also carved into magical objects that were alive with soul-force and, thus, either useful or potentially harmful.

The carved images kings wore on their foreheads and chests projected supernatural power. This carved jadeite pendant with frontal face would have originally been suspended from a necklace or brooch by the holes at the back. The figure wears either a headdress or knotted hairstyle. The pendant may be unfinished as the facial features are only slightly indicated by incised lines, with the eyes and nose being the most pronounced.

Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.

Drawn from
  • Carol Robbins, Label text [1968.20], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
  • Carol Robbins, Label text [1973.46], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
  • Getty Vocabulary, AAT (pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002).

Fun Facts

Archival Resources

Web Resources
 

Notes
  • Maya, Late Classic, 600–900 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13.
  • Part of same accession (2008.74-90); share 1 object file (2 folders); 2008.77 has individual TMS object record.

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Maya: AAT: 300017826
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099

Geography 
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Guatemala (nation): TGN: 7005493

Process/materials
jadeite (mineral): AAT: 300011121
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211

Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986

Individuals

Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
green (color): AAT: 300128438
figures: AAT: 300189808
head: AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
face: DMA
male: AAT: 300189559
headdress: AAT: 300046023
hairstyles: AAT: 300262903
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
precious (concept / condition): DMA

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 
Until d. 2007: Jerry L. Abramson (d. 2007), Dallas [1], [2], [3]

From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, given in memory of Jerry L. Abramson by his estate [1], [2], [3]

[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, to Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated December 22, 2008, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The main source for this provenance is receipt and release form signed by Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, and Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[3] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS

rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2008.77
tags
#draft
#completed
@Higgins
*Arts of the Americas
%copyedited_Gail
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
incising: AAT: 300053847
hairstyles: AAT: 300262903
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
%Archived
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
carving (processes): AAT: 300053149
heads (representations): AAT: 300262520
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
Maya: AAT: 300017826
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
male: AAT: 300189559
jadeite (mineral): AAT: 300011121
green (color): AAT: 300128438
headdresses: AAT: 300046023
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
precious (concept / condition): DMA
Classic period (Mesoamerican periods and styles): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic period (Mesoamerican periods and styles): AAT: 300016986
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
Guatemala (nation): TGN: 7005493
source file
object_notes_3_a-0787.xml.nores