1976.W.451 Ear Ornament (Semicircle Cast Filigree) (Colombia, Zenú (Sinú))

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 02/09/16 and 05/11/17; no period noted.
Fun Facts Source: Carol Robbins, "Inventory Description, Medium," in DMA Object File, Ear Ornament (Semicircle Cast Filigree) (1976.W.451) (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, n.d.), 2).

Catalogue essays

The Nora and John Wise Collection of Ancient South American Art

Artist/designers

Cultures

Zenú (Sinú)

Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980

Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422

Zenú (Sinú): AAT: 300017434

Geography

Intermediate Central America

Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050

Sinú (river): TGN: 1130040

Process/materials

Colombian Goldwork

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): AAT: 300163114

triangles (polygons): AAT: 300009806

zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028

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

miniature (size): AAT: 300121995

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

A modern hole was drilled at the bottom for wear as a pendant.

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.451