GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This neckpiece pectoral is a stunning example of Andean featherwork, displaying the red feathers of a macaw and the blue and purple feathers of a Paradise Tanager or Spangled Cotinga. The former are sewn into place on the cotton plain-weave while the latter are glued along the frame and into figural forms. A human-like figure with a crested headdress is flanked by seabirds and fish. Along the base, the fringe is composed of finely worked beads of Spondylus shell, a feature common to late Chimú objects.
The featherwork neckpiece is claimed to derive from a cache of offerings found on the southern coast of Peru. Despite their reputed recovery from southern Peru, this neckpiece and other cached objects reflect principally north coast Chimú designs. If the provenience is accurate, then this group demonstrates either the trade of Chimú elite objects or the presence of Chimú populations on the south coast during the Late Horizon (1400-1532 CE), perhaps under Inca imperial rule.
Adapted from
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.
NOTES
- Chimú, Late Horizon, A.D. 1200-1470, updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13, 06/18/14 and 01/21/16.
- Updated dates in TMS to reflect Inca label -- 1400–1550.
- Fun Facts Source: Object Information Card (1972.23.1.McD), n.d., Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File; Kimberly L. Jones, DMA Label Copy (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), "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," 2015.
Catalogue essays
- McDermott Art Fund
- A Conversation with Margaret McDermott, by Dorothy Kosinski (2003)
- Textiles at the Dallas Museum of Art
- Textile Production in the Andes
Artist/designers
Cultures
Chimú: AAT: 300017316
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
weaving: AAT: 300053642
plain weave (process): AAT: 300312167
tabby (process): AAT: 300312167
featherwork: AAT: 300044032
feather (material): AAT: 300011809
cotton (fiber): AAT: 300183670
shell (animal material): AAT: 300011829
beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006
glue: AAT: 300014815
fringe (trimming): AAT: 300227830
beading (edging pattern): AAT: 300054013
tassel (trimming): AAT: 300232185
Historical periods
Late Horizon Period: AAT: 300017332
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
collars (neckwear): AAT: 300210058
neckpieces (neckwear): AAT: 300210071
textile materials: AAT: 300231565
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
burials: AAT: 300263485
red (color): AAT: 300126225
blue (color): AAT: 300129361
purple (color): AAT: 300130257
macaws (bird): AAT: 300310660
songbirds (bird / Passeriformes order): AAT: 300310280
Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis / bird): DMA
Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana / bird): DMA
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
crescent (motif): AAT: 300165510
headdress: AAT: 300046023
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
fish (animals): AAT: 300266085
spondylus shell (Spondylus genus/Spondylidae family): DMA
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
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 August 25, 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.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
- 253365438: UMO. [Caption] Scarlet Macaw (ara macao). Source: Tony Hisgett, Wikimedia Commons, accessed: April 27, 2015, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ara_(genus)#/media/File:Ara_macao_-Yucatan,_Mexico-8a.jpg.
#/media/File:Ara_macao_-Yucatan,_Mexico-8a.jpg){kind=link}
- 265930510: UMO. [Caption] Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis). Source: Drew Avery, Wikimedia Commons, accessed: December 02, 2015, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Tangara_chilensis_-Denver_Zoo-8a.jpg.
- 265930563: UMO. [Caption] Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana). Source: Greg Hume (Own work), Wikimedia Commons, accessed: December 02, 2015, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/SpangledCotinga.jpg.
WEB RESOURCES
The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about birds in the Andes.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- The foundation fabric for this bib was woven on a backstrap loom. After it was removed from the loom, the feathers were stitched onto the fabric by means of four rows of knots. The rows of feathers are sewn on so that none of the stitching is visible from the top side.
- The cache of offerings found on the southern coast of Peru included a number of works in the DMA’s collections, a ceremonial rod (1972.23.2.McD), a featherwork neckpiece (1972.23.1.McD), a pair of coca spoons with bird and animal finials (1972.23.4.1.McD; 1972.23.4.2.McD), a pair of miniature camelid figurines (1972.23.5.1.McD; 1972.23.5.2.McD), and a set of small spoons with bird finial (1972.23.3.1.McD; 1972.23.3.2.McD).
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1972.23.1.McD
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
This neckpiece pectoral is a stunning example of Andean featherwork, displaying the red feathers of a macaw and the blue and purple feathers of a Paradise Tanager or Spangled Cotinga. The former are sewn into place on the cotton plain-weave while the latter are glued along the frame and into figural forms. A human-like figure with a crested headdress is flanked by seabirds and fish. Along the base, the fringe is composed of finely worked beads of Spondylus shell, a feature common to late Chimú objects.
The featherwork neckpiece is claimed to derive from a cache of offerings found on the southern coast of Peru. Despite their reputed recovery from southern Peru, this neckpiece and other cached objects reflect principally north coast Chimú designs. If the provenience is accurate, then this group demonstrates either the trade of Chimú elite objects or the presence of Chimú populations on the south coast during the Late Horizon (1400-1532 CE), perhaps under Inca imperial rule.
Adapted from
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.
Fun Facts
- The foundation fabric for this bib was woven on a backstrap loom. After it was removed from the loom, the feathers were stitched onto the fabric by means of four rows of knots. The rows of feathers are sewn on so that none of the stitching is visible from the top side.
- The cache of offerings found on the southern coast of Peru included a number of works in the DMA’s collections, a ceremonial rod (1972.23.2.McD), a featherwork neckpiece (1972.23.1.McD), a pair of coca spoons with bird and animal finials (1972.23.4.1.McD; 1972.23.4.2.McD), a pair of miniature camelid figurines (1972.23.5.1.McD; 1972.23.5.2.McD), and a set of small spoons with bird finial (1972.23.3.1.McD; 1972.23.3.2.McD).
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Chimú, Late Horizon, A.D. 1200-1470, updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13, 06/18/14 and 01/21/16.
- Updated dates in TMS to reflect Inca label -- 1400–1550.
- Fun Facts Source: Object Information Card (1972.23.1.McD), n.d., Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File; Kimberly L. Jones, DMA Label Copy (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), "Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes," 2015.
Catalogue essays
- McDermott Art Fund
- A Conversation with Margaret McDermott, by Dorothy Kosinski (2003)
- Textiles at the Dallas Museum of Art
- Textile Production in the Andes
Artist/designers
Cultures
Chimú: AAT: 300017316
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
weaving: AAT: 300053642
plain weave (process): AAT: 300312167
tabby (process): AAT: 300312167
featherwork: AAT: 300044032
feather (material): AAT: 300011809
cotton (fiber): AAT: 300183670
shell (animal material): AAT: 300011829
beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006
glue: AAT: 300014815
fringe (trimming): AAT: 300227830
beading (edging pattern): AAT: 300054013
tassel (trimming): AAT: 300232185
Historical periods
Late Horizon Period: AAT: 300017332
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
collars (neckwear): AAT: 300210058
neckpieces (neckwear): AAT: 300210071
textile materials: AAT: 300231565
textiles (visual works): AAT: 300014063
burials: AAT: 300263485
red (color): AAT: 300126225
blue (color): AAT: 300129361
purple (color): AAT: 300130257
macaws (bird): AAT: 300310660
songbirds (bird / Passeriformes order): AAT: 300310280
Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis / bird): DMA
Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana / bird): DMA
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
crescent (motif): AAT: 300165510
headdress: AAT: 300046023
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
fish (animals): AAT: 300266085
spondylus shell (Spondylus genus/Spondylidae family): DMA
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
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 August 25, 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.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1972.23.1.McD
source file
object_notes_3_c-0090.xml.nores