GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Large felines like jaguars, ocelots, and pumas are common in the art of the ancient Americas and in contemporary Latin American mythology. Solitary and nocturnal, the feline is both a powerful predator and a common alter ego, or spirit double, for shamans and priests. For the warlike Moche people, the jaguar was a symbol of perfection, often depicted with a human figure that probably represented a victim of conquest. The colorful cats on this textile wear hats and hold staffs. Despite their apparent lack of ferocity, the cats wear human trophy heads around their necks, a reference to the belief that the head is the seat of human power.
Adapted from
Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries.
NOTES
Wari (Huari) provincial, Middle Horizon, 650–750 CE; updated by KJones in TMS on 06/01/15 and 11/19/15.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Wari (Huari): AAT: 300017283
Geography
Wari (Huari): TGN: 1024536
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Huarmey (inhabited place): TGN: 1024539
Process/materials
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
textile materials: AAT: 300231565
camelidae (camelid) fiber: AAT: 300310434
cotton (fiber): AAT: 300183670
weaving: AAT: 300053642
warp: AAT: 300227930
weft: AAT: 300227934
Historical periods
Middle Horizon Period: AAT: 300017300
Individuals
Subject terms
panels (surface components): AAT: 300069079
bands (decorative): DMA
borders: AAT: 300010252
red (color): AAT: 300126225
blue (color): AAT: 300129361
yellow (color): AAT: 300127794
black (color): AAT: 300130920
white (color): AAT: 300129784
polychrome: AAT: 300252261
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
squares (geometric figures): AAT: 300055637
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319
animals (Animalia kingdom): AAT: 300249395
feline (cat-like): DMA
jaguar (animals): AAT: 300310389
ocelots (animals/leopardis pardalis species/leopardus genus): AAT: 300310364
pumas (Puma concolor species): AAT: 300310373
mythology (literary genre): AAT: 300055985
myth: AAT: 300201023
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
night: AAT: 300133095
power: AAT: 300374809
predators: AAT: 300249916
spirit: AAT: 300379007
deities: AAT: 300343850
shaman: AAT: 300218522
priests: AAT: 300025774
Moche: AAT: 300017287
Moche (river): TGN: 7016595
symbol: AAT: 300055878
perfection: AAT: 300179426
human figures: AAT: 300404114
sacrifices: AAT: 300263243
captive (prisoners of war): AAT: 300259895
conquests (events): AAT: 300410367
wars: AAT: 300055314
battles: AAT: 300185692
hats (headgear): AAT: 300046106
staffs (staff weapon components): AAT: 300204653
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
trophies (objects): AAT: 300233975
trophy heads (trophies of war): DMA
trophies of war (objects): AAT: 300379111
heads (representations): AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
teeth (animal components): AAT: 300400467
fangs (teeth): DMA
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
crests (motifs): AAT: 300233389
warrior: AAT: 300261945
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1978: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc. [1], [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance was existing information in TMS (in Dallas Museum of Art Digital Collections Records Object Files). 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.
[3] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1978.4.McD
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General Description
Large felines like jaguars, ocelots, and pumas are common in the art of the ancient Americas and in contemporary Latin American mythology. Solitary and nocturnal, the feline is both a powerful predator and a common alter ego, or spirit double, for shamans and priests. For the warlike Moche people, the jaguar was a symbol of perfection, often depicted with a human figure that probably represented a victim of conquest. The colorful cats on this textile wear hats and hold staffs. Despite their apparent lack of ferocity, the cats wear human trophy heads around their necks, a reference to the belief that the head is the seat of human power.
Adapted from
Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Wari (Huari) provincial, Middle Horizon, 650–750 CE; updated by KJones in TMS on 06/01/15 and 11/19/15.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Wari (Huari): AAT: 300017283
Geography
Wari (Huari): TGN: 1024536
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Huarmey (inhabited place): TGN: 1024539
Process/materials
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
textile materials: AAT: 300231565
camelidae (camelid) fiber: AAT: 300310434
cotton (fiber): AAT: 300183670
weaving: AAT: 300053642
warp: AAT: 300227930
weft: AAT: 300227934
Historical periods
Middle Horizon Period: AAT: 300017300
Individuals
Subject terms
panels (surface components): AAT: 300069079
bands (decorative): DMA
borders: AAT: 300010252
red (color): AAT: 300126225
blue (color): AAT: 300129361
yellow (color): AAT: 300127794
black (color): AAT: 300130920
white (color): AAT: 300129784
polychrome: AAT: 300252261
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
squares (geometric figures): AAT: 300055637
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319
animals (Animalia kingdom): AAT: 300249395
feline (cat-like): DMA
jaguar (animals): AAT: 300310389
ocelots (animals/leopardis pardalis species/leopardus genus): AAT: 300310364
pumas (Puma concolor species): AAT: 300310373
mythology (literary genre): AAT: 300055985
myth: AAT: 300201023
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
night: AAT: 300133095
power: AAT: 300374809
predators: AAT: 300249916
spirit: AAT: 300379007
deities: AAT: 300343850
shaman: AAT: 300218522
priests: AAT: 300025774
Moche: AAT: 300017287
Moche (river): TGN: 7016595
symbol: AAT: 300055878
perfection: AAT: 300179426
human figures: AAT: 300404114
sacrifices: AAT: 300263243
captive (prisoners of war): AAT: 300259895
conquests (events): AAT: 300410367
wars: AAT: 300055314
battles: AAT: 300185692
hats (headgear): AAT: 300046106
staffs (staff weapon components): AAT: 300204653
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
trophies (objects): AAT: 300233975
trophy heads (trophies of war): DMA
trophies of war (objects): AAT: 300379111
heads (representations): AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
teeth (animal components): AAT: 300400467
fangs (teeth): DMA
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
crests (motifs): AAT: 300233389
warrior: AAT: 300261945
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1978: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc. [1], [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance was existing information in TMS (in Dallas Museum of Art Digital Collections Records Object Files). 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.
[3] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.
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1978.4.McD
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object_notes_3_b-0021.xml.nores