1976.W.372 Crown with design of raised circles and dots (Quimbaya, Colombia)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Among the societies of Central America, gold ornaments were important symbols of power and prestige that expressed authority and status in life and in death. The pre-Hispanic goldwork of Colombia is traditionally classified by archaeological zones, or regions, each with stylistic associations, varying in iconography and technology: Calima, Quimbaya, Tolima, and Nariño in the southwest; Zenú (Sinú) and Tairona in northwestern Colombia; and Muisca in the central highlands southeast of Bogotá. The Quimbaya style was first identified in 1890, when an elite burial of six individuals with 122 gold objects was found near the village of Filandia in the middle Cauca Valley. All these gold objects are now housed in the Museo de América in Madrid, known as the Treasure of the Quimbayas.

The richly varied works of this region were primarily objects of personal adornment. Headdress elements, pectorals, bracelets, anklets, and nose and ear ornaments probably functioned as ceremonial regalia for elite men. Decorated with delicate scrolls and rows of circular bosses, the image on this gold crown is flattened and bilaterally symmetrical for maximum decorative effect. The two small sets of holes at the back suggest it may have originally been tied to a neckband or garment. When worn with other gold ornaments, as many pieces undoubtedly were, they would have created a dazzling golden image.

Adapted 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.
Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Pendant with two frogs (1976.W.292), Pendant bell depicting a turtle (1976.W.301), Pendant depicting a batlike mask (1976.W.237)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 35.
"Lime Container (Poporo) (1991.419.22)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1991.419.22/. (August 2009).

NOTES

Quimbaya, 400–700 C.E. (noted on TMS), NOT updated by KJones in TMS.

Catalogue essays

The Nora and John Wise Collection of Ancient South American Art

Artist/designers

Cultures

Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980

Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422

Quimbaya: AAT: 300017997

Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619

Geography

Intermediate Central America

Colombia (nation): TGN: 1000050

Valle del Cauca (department): TGN: 7005078

Cauca (department): TGN: 1000554

Cordillera Central (mountain range): TGN: 108881

Río Cauca (river): TGN: 1122595

Quimbaya: TGN: 1023952

Process/materials

Colombian Goldwork

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

annealing: AAT: 300053886

casting: AAT: 300053104

solder: AAT: 300010993

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274

costume: AAT: 300209261

crowns (costume components): AAT: 300213000

crowns (headdresses): AAT: 300210387

headdress: AAT: 300046023

diadems (headbands, headgear): AAT: 300046021

ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387

funerary objects: AAT: 300234126

ornaments: AAT: 300266794

decorating (process): AAT: 300056257

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

geometric shape: AAT: 300263819

geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213

dots (geometric motif): AAT: 300010145

circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627

circular (shape): AAT: 300263827

scrolls (spirals/motifs): AAT: 300010094

spirals (geometric figures): AAT: 300163114

lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279

bands (decorative): DMA

bosses (components): AAT: 300047259

raised (form attribute): AAT: 300010354

relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622

funerary objects: AAT: 300234126

ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387

nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942

power: AAT: 300374809

prestige: AAT: 300343604

social status: AAT: 300065206

symmetry: AAT: 300056249

light (energy): AAT: 300056024

polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867

shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244

burials: AAT: 300263485

burial chambers: AAT: 300004088

village: AAT: 300008372

Museo de América de Madrid (Spanish museum): ULAN: 500372608

Museo de América (Spanish repository): ULAN: 500302380

Madrid (Spain): TGN: 7380605

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 letter from A.L. Woodman, Chief of Valuation Analysis Section of the Internal Revenue Service, to Harry S. Parker, Director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (dated July 23, 1979, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). 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.372