1976.W.487 Lime Container (Poporo) (Colombia, Muisca)


GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Coca chewing was and remains a common practice in the Andean regions for its suppression of hunger and fatigue. Andean populations would also activate the alkaloids of the coca leaf through the use of a lime stimulant. The lime powder could derive from either crushed shells or their byproduct, ground limestone. Ground lime was kept in small bottles (poporos), which could be carried within the coca bags, while the lime itself was applied by a small stick or spatula to a coca quid already in the mouth. Lime bottles from various South American populations have been recovered in gourd, carved wood, and metal forms, such as this gold container.

Adapted from
Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1983.W.120; 1976.W.487], 2015.

NOTES
  • Muisca, A.D. 1200-1500, updated by KJones in TMS on 12/12/13 and 02/09/16, and by mmacleod 04/15/15.
  • Updated dates in TMS to reflect Inca label -- A.D. 400–550; no period listed in TMS or exhibition label.

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Cultures
Native Colombian: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986

Geography
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050

Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
tumbaga: AAT: 300248834

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms
containers (receptacles): AAT: 300197197
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
lime bottles / lime containers (vessels): DMA
limestone (rock): AAT: 300011286
spatulas (culinary tools): AAT: 300209587
coca (plants / Erythroxylum (genus) Erythroxylaceae (family)): AAT: 300411778
leaves (plant components): AAT: 300400479
chew (action): DMA
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]

From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [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 1976.W.487
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Coca chewing was and remains a common practice in the Andean regions for its suppression of hunger and fatigue. Andean populations would also activate the alkaloids of the coca leaf through the use of a lime stimulant. The lime powder could derive from either crushed shells or their byproduct, ground limestone. Ground lime was kept in small bottles (poporos), which could be carried within the coca bags, while the lime itself was applied by a small stick or spatula to a coca quid already in the mouth. Lime bottles from various South American populations have been recovered in gourd, carved wood, and metal forms, such as this gold container.

Adapted from
Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1983.W.120; 1976.W.487], 2015.

Fun Facts

Archival Resources

Web Resources

Notes
  • Muisca, A.D. 1200-1500, updated by KJones in TMS on 12/12/13 and 02/09/16, and by mmacleod 04/15/15.
  • Updated dates in TMS to reflect Inca label -- A.D. 400–550; no period listed in TMS or exhibition label.

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Cultures
Native Colombian: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986

Geography
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050

Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
tumbaga: AAT: 300248834

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms
containers (receptacles): AAT: 300197197
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
lime bottles / lime containers (vessels): DMA
limestone (rock): AAT: 300011286
spatulas (culinary tools): AAT: 300209587
coca (plants / Erythroxylum (genus) Erythroxylaceae (family)): AAT: 300411778
leaves (plant components): AAT: 300400479
chew (action): DMA
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]

From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [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
1976.W.487
tags
#draft
#completed
@Higgins
*Arts of the Americas
%copyedited_Gail
%Archived
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
containers (receptacles): AAT: 300197197
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
gold (metal): AAT: 300011021
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050
leaves (plant components): AAT: 300400479
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
tumbaga: AAT: 300248834
Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986
limestone (rock): AAT: 300011286
spatulas (culinary tools): AAT: 300209587
chew (action): DMA
coca (plants / Erythroxylum (genus) Erythroxylaceae (family)): AAT: 300411778
lime bottles / lime container (vessels): DMA
source file
object_notes_4_b-0066.xml.nores