1972.23.4.1-2.McD Pair of coca spoons: bird and animal finials (Peru, Chimú)

These spoons are claimed to derive from a cache of offerings found on the southern coast of Peru. The objects, however, reflect principally north coast Chimú designs. This pair of small spoons, possibly used for lime or snuff, bear finials that represent a bird overtaking a human figure. If the provenience is accurate, then this group demonstrates the movement of peoples during the Late Horizon (1400-1532 CE), perhaps under Inca imperial rule.

Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1972.23.2.McD; 1972.23.1.McD; 1972.23.4.1.McD; 1972.23.4.2.McD; 1972.23.5.1.McD; 1972.23.5.2.McD], 2015.

Chimú: AAT: 300017316

Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056

bone (material): AAT: 300011798

stone: AAT: 300011176

shell (animal material): AAT: 300011829

carving: AAT: 300053149

incising: AAT: 300053847

polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867

drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211

inlays (decorations): AAT: 300256003

shell inlay (decorations): DMA

Late Horizon Period: AAT: 300017332

spoons: AAT: 300043149

sculpture: AAT: 300047090

ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

burials: AAT: 300263485

effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108

profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319

figures (representations): AAT: 300189808

animals: DMA

birds (animals): AAT: 300266506

birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751

coca (plants / Erythroxylum (genus) Erythroxylaceae (family)): AAT: 300411778

Until 1972: John Wise Ltd. (John and Nora Wise), New York [1], [2]

From 1972: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., purchased from the above [1], [2], [3], [4]

[1] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated October 06, 1972, 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 Letter from Merrill C. Rueppel, Director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, to Eugene and Margaret McDermott (dated October 10, 1972, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records 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] 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.

SET OPERATOR AS OR

Apply to objects where number equals 1972.23.4.1.McD

Apply to objects where number equals 1972.23.4.2.McD

apply to OBJECTS where id equals 5331570