GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Through twenty years of collaborative research, conservators and scholars have determined the materials and techniques used in the production of colonial wooden goblets, or quero. The polychrome surface was made through inlay with a resin known as mopa mopa (Elaeagia pastoensis), which was imported to Cuzco from the north-eastern Andes along with tropical wood for the vessels. The resin was mixed with pigments and pressed into carved spaces on the vessel until flush with the surface. While the final product was perhaps meant to emulate European painting, the technique resulted foremost in a uniquely colonial Andean object. The “Rainbow Motif” scenes are the least narrative of colonial quero, representing separately an Inca male or Inca coya (queen) under an arching rainbow around the vessel surface. The rainbow, which projects from a jaguar head or figure, was an auspicious sign and a portent of rain for the Inca.
Adapted from
Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1983.W.1848; 1983.W.1853], 2015.
NOTES
- Post-Conquest Inca, 1630–1780, NOT updated by KJones in TMS.
- Updated culture, medium, period, and geography in TMS to reflect Inca label -- Inka (Inca), wood and pigmented resin inlay, Spanish Colonial, Perú.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Inka (Inca): AAT: 300017326
Inca horizon: AAT: 300017352
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
wood (plant material): AAT: 300011914
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
resin (organic material): AAT: 300012882
inlay (process): AAT: 300053850
mopa mopa (resin / Elaeagia pastoensis shrub): DMA
Historical periods
Spanish Colonial (Spanish Renaissance-Baroque styles / styles and periods): AAT: 300107033
Colonial Latin American (Spanish Colonial / styles and periods): AAT: 300018082
Colonial Spanish American (Spanish Colonial / styles and periods): AAT: 300343841
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
cups (drinking vessels): AAT: ID: 300043202
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
keros (kero cups): AAT: 300265120
quero (kero cups): AAT: 300265120
qero (kero cups): AAT: 300265120
polychrome: AAT: 300252261
Cuzco: TGN: 7005819
Andes (mountain system) : TGN : 7016589
painting (visual works): AAT: 300033618
rainbows (motifs): DMA
arches: AAT: 300000994
figures: AAT: 300189808
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
king: AAT: 300025481
queens (people): AAT: 300025483
male: AAT: 300189559
female: AAT: 300189557
animals: DMA
feline: DMA
jaguar: AAT: 300310389
head: AAT: 300262520
rain (precipitation / weather): AAT: 300055377
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028
dots (geometric motif): AAT: 300010145
plant-derived motifs: AAT: 300164599
flower (motif): AAT: 300375563
cantuta flower (Cantua buxifolia / cantua / Qantu(ta) / Flor del Inca / Flower of the Inca): DMA
shields (armor): AAT: 300036869
llama (species): AAT: 300256340
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
bands (decorative): DMA
registers (compositional): DMA
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
1976-1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
From 1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of John Wise [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. 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.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1983.W.1848
Category
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AND
General Description
Through twenty years of collaborative research, conservators and scholars have determined the materials and techniques used in the production of colonial wooden goblets, or quero. The polychrome surface was made through inlay with a resin known as mopa mopa (Elaeagia pastoensis), which was imported to Cuzco from the north-eastern Andes along with tropical wood for the vessels. The resin was mixed with pigments and pressed into carved spaces on the vessel until flush with the surface. While the final product was perhaps meant to emulate European painting, the technique resulted foremost in a uniquely colonial Andean object. The “Rainbow Motif” scenes are the least narrative of colonial quero, representing separately an Inca male or Inca coya (queen) under an arching rainbow around the vessel surface. The rainbow, which projects from a jaguar head or figure, was an auspicious sign and a portent of rain for the Inca.
Adapted from
Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1983.W.1848; 1983.W.1853], 2015.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Post-Conquest Inca, 1630–1780, NOT updated by KJones in TMS.
- Updated culture, medium, period, and geography in TMS to reflect Inca label -- Inka (Inca), wood and pigmented resin inlay, Spanish Colonial, Perú.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Inka (Inca): AAT: 300017326
Inca horizon: AAT: 300017352
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
wood (plant material): AAT: 300011914
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
resin (organic material): AAT: 300012882
inlay (process): AAT: 300053850
mopa mopa (resin / Elaeagia pastoensis shrub): DMA
Historical periods
Spanish Colonial (Spanish Renaissance-Baroque styles / styles and periods): AAT: 300107033
Colonial Latin American (Spanish Colonial / styles and periods): AAT: 300018082
Colonial Spanish American (Spanish Colonial / styles and periods): AAT: 300343841
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
cups (drinking vessels): AAT: ID: 300043202
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
keros (kero cups): AAT: 300265120
quero (kero cups): AAT: 300265120
qero (kero cups): AAT: 300265120
polychrome: AAT: 300252261
Cuzco: TGN: 7005819
Andes (mountain system) : TGN : 7016589
painting (visual works): AAT: 300033618
rainbows (motifs): DMA
arches: AAT: 300000994
figures: AAT: 300189808
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
king: AAT: 300025481
queens (people): AAT: 300025483
male: AAT: 300189559
female: AAT: 300189557
animals: DMA
feline: DMA
jaguar: AAT: 300310389
head: AAT: 300262520
rain (precipitation / weather): AAT: 300055377
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028
dots (geometric motif): AAT: 300010145
plant-derived motifs: AAT: 300164599
flower (motif): AAT: 300375563
cantuta flower (Cantua buxifolia / cantua / Qantu(ta) / Flor del Inca / Flower of the Inca): DMA
shields (armor): AAT: 300036869
llama (species): AAT: 300256340
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
bands (decorative): DMA
registers (compositional): DMA
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
1976-1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
From 1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of John Wise [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. 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.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1983.W.1848
source file
object_notes_4_a-0421.xml.nores