GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The pre-Hispanic goldwork of Colombia is traditionally classified by archaeological zones, or regions, each with stylistic associations, varying in iconography and technology: Zenú (Sinú) and Tairona in northwestern Colombia; Muisca in the central highlands southeast of Bogotá; and in the southwest, Quimbaya, Calima, Tolima, and Nariño. The richly varied works were primarily objects of personal adornment. Pendants, headdress elements, pectorals, bracelets, anklets, and nose and ear ornaments probably functioned as ceremonial regalia for elite men. Sixteenth-century records and recent research indicate that Sinú gold objects derived from the Gran Zenú region, thus attributed to the Zenú people who occupied the region during the 16th century conquest and whose descendants occupy the east of the lower Sinú River today. Zenú (Sinú) ornaments often feature delicate spirals, intricate line-work, and braided elements in cast filigree, as seen in this example. When worn together, as many of these personal gold ornaments undoubtedly were, they would have created a dazzling golden image.
Drawn from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 33.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Headdress ornament with heads flanked by crested crocodiles (1976.W.319)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 34.
- Carol Robbins, "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1997), 178.
- "Nose Ornament (1979.206.545)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.541,.545/. (August 2009).
- "Eagle Pendant (1977.187.22)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1977.187.22/. (August 2009).
NOTES
Zenú (Sinú), 600–1200 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 03/23/16 and 05/11/17; no period noted.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Zenú (Sinú)
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Zenú (Sinú): AAT: 300017434
Geography
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050
Sinú (river): TGN: 1130040
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
annealing: AAT: 300053886
casting (process): AAT: 300053104
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
solder: AAT: 300010993
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
filigree: AAT: 300220293
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
ornaments: AAT: 300266794
ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
scrolls (spirals/motifs): AAT: 300010094
spirals (geometric figures): ATT: 300163114
zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028
braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942
power: AAT: 300374809
prestige: AAT: 300343604
social status: AAT: 300065206
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
1976-1989: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
From 1989: Dallas Museum of Art, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of Nora Wise [1]
[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.
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VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1989.W.457
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General Description
The pre-Hispanic goldwork of Colombia is traditionally classified by archaeological zones, or regions, each with stylistic associations, varying in iconography and technology: Zenú (Sinú) and Tairona in northwestern Colombia; Muisca in the central highlands southeast of Bogotá; and in the southwest, Quimbaya, Calima, Tolima, and Nariño. The richly varied works were primarily objects of personal adornment. Pendants, headdress elements, pectorals, bracelets, anklets, and nose and ear ornaments probably functioned as ceremonial regalia for elite men. Sixteenth-century records and recent research indicate that Sinú gold objects derived from the Gran Zenú region, thus attributed to the Zenú people who occupied the region during the 16th century conquest and whose descendants occupy the east of the lower Sinú River today. Zenú (Sinú) ornaments often feature delicate spirals, intricate line-work, and braided elements in cast filigree, as seen in this example. When worn together, as many of these personal gold ornaments undoubtedly were, they would have created a dazzling golden image.
Drawn from
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 33.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Headdress ornament with heads flanked by crested crocodiles (1976.W.319)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 34.
- Carol Robbins, "Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Suzanne Kotz (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1997), 178.
- "Nose Ornament (1979.206.545)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.541,.545/. (August 2009).
- "Eagle Pendant (1977.187.22)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1977.187.22/. (August 2009).
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Zenú (Sinú), 600–1200 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 03/23/16 and 05/11/17; no period noted.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Zenú (Sinú)
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Zenú (Sinú): AAT: 300017434
Geography
Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050
Sinú (river): TGN: 1130040
Process/materials
gold: AAT: 300011021
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
annealing: AAT: 300053886
casting (process): AAT: 300053104
chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016
embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826
repoussé: AAT: 300054023
solder: AAT: 300010993
sheet metal: AAT: 300223016
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098
filigree: AAT: 300220293
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
ornaments: AAT: 300266794
ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
scrolls (spirals/motifs): AAT: 300010094
spirals (geometric figures): ATT: 300163114
zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028
braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387
nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942
power: AAT: 300374809
prestige: AAT: 300343604
social status: AAT: 300065206
symmetry: AAT: 300056249
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
1976-1989: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
From 1989: Dallas Museum of Art, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of Nora Wise [1]
[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.
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Objects
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1989.W.457
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object_notes_3_a-0604.xml.nores