1976.W.478 Nose Ornament (Colombia, Muisca)

The pre-Hispanic goldwork of Colombia is traditionally classified by archaeological zones, or regions, each with stylistic associations, varying in iconography and technology: Muisca in the central highlands southeast of Bogotá; Zenú (Sinú) and Tairona in northwestern Colombia; 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. In contrast, however, Muisca gold objects consist primarily of votive offerings. Muisca gold objects were usually comprised of a concentrated copper-gold alloy, known as tumbaga, and created by lost-wax casting. Objects often had multiple parts, and the surface was often left unpolished. Since the Muisca region lacked a source of gold, they traded other precious materials to acquire the metal. 

Metalworkers favored objects with multiple parts and the addition of dangles, and the surface was often left unpolished, as in this example. This nose ornament features delicate openwork with cut-out motifs and braided elements with filigreelike detail. The disk-shaped ornamental gold dangles attached along the base would have created a dazzling golden image when worn.

Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980

Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422

Muisca (Chibcha): AAT: 300017986

Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050

gold: AAT: 300011021

goldwork: AAT: 300044045

annealing: AAT: 300053886

repoussé: AAT: 300054023

casting (process): AAT: 300053104

chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016

embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826

solder: AAT: 300010993

sheet metal: AAT: 300223016

metalwork: AAT: 300015336

hammering (metal finishing): AAT: 300054098

Lost-wax process: AAT: 300053113

tumbaga: AAT: 300248834

filigree: AAT: 300220293

jewelry: AAT: 300209286

ornaments: AAT: 300266794

nose ornaments (jewelry): AAT: 300211628

nose rings (nose ornaments): AAT: 300046005

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627

triangles (polygons): AAT: 300009806

diamonds (motifs): AAT: 300009791

crescent (motif): AAT: 300165510

lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279

zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028

braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658

disks (object genres): AAT: 300251427

beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006

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

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.

Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.478