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: 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 Calima region encompasses the upper Calima River valley and surrounding areas of the Western Cordillera, extending east to the Cauca River. Calima goldwork, like other styles of southwestern Colombia, is characterized by the use of high-quality gold and a preference for working the metal directly by hammering. The richly varied Colombian goldwork were primarily objects of personal adornment.
Research in the Calima region has established several periods of occupation. Striking masks depicting human faces, of which some thirty examples are known, are now attributed to the Ilama period (1000 BCE-100 CE), the earliest in which gold was worked in this area. The masks share an oval or rounded shape with a clean outline, almond-shaped eyes, triangular nose, prominent mouth, and broad cheeks. Details distinguish one mask from another: the depth of the features, the size of the pupil-like holes in the eyes, the smooth or ragged edges of cut-out areas, and the shape of the mouth, which may form a rectangular grimace or a crescentic smile. Although many of the masks have been found in burials, they could also have been worn during life.
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.
NOTES
- Calima, Ilama period, 800–100 B.C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on TMS, 06/18/14, 01/12/16, 03/25/16, 03/30/16, and 03/31/16.
- Fun Facts Sources: TMS, Object Record (1976.W.321), Published References: cited in Clemencia Plazas de Nieto & Ana-Maria Falchetti de Saenz, EL DORADO: COLOMBIAN GOLD (The Australian Art Exhibitions Corporation, 1978), Calima Cat. #1; Jo Ann Griffin, Conservator, 02/18/77; "Inventory Description, Conservator's Notes," in DMA Object File, Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321) (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, n.d.), 2, 4).
Cultures
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Calima: AAT: 300017424
Geography
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
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
Historical periods
Ilama Period (Pre-Columbian Colombian styles): DMA
Individuals
Subject terms
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
figures: AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
male: AAT: 300189559
faces: AAT: 300251798
teeth (animal components): AAT: 300400467
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
nose: DMA
triangular (polygonal): AAT: 300263833
mouth: DMA
rectangles (parallelograms): AAT: 300055636
round (shape): AAT: 300121969
oval (shape): AAT: 300263817
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
burials: AAT: 300263485
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
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, purchased from the above [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from A.L. Woodman, Chief Valuation Analysis Section of the Internal Revenue Service, to Harry S. Parker, Director of 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
- This mask was featured in the World of Ancient Gold exhibit at the New York's World's Fair, Travel and Transportation Pavilion (April 22-October 18, 1964).
- Nicknamed "Rocky" by museum staff, traces of red paint remain on the surface. It has been cleaned and ironed, and many scratches remain on the front.
- The Funerary Mask at the Museo del Oro (#3950, hammered gold, Valle del Cavca, Restrepo) is close enough to the DMA's mask that it may be by the same maker.
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.321
Category
rules_operator
AND
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: 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 Calima region encompasses the upper Calima River valley and surrounding areas of the Western Cordillera, extending east to the Cauca River. Calima goldwork, like other styles of southwestern Colombia, is characterized by the use of high-quality gold and a preference for working the metal directly by hammering. The richly varied Colombian goldwork were primarily objects of personal adornment.
Research in the Calima region has established several periods of occupation. Striking masks depicting human faces, of which some thirty examples are known, are now attributed to the Ilama period (1000 BCE-100 CE), the earliest in which gold was worked in this area. The masks share an oval or rounded shape with a clean outline, almond-shaped eyes, triangular nose, prominent mouth, and broad cheeks. Details distinguish one mask from another: the depth of the features, the size of the pupil-like holes in the eyes, the smooth or ragged edges of cut-out areas, and the shape of the mouth, which may form a rectangular grimace or a crescentic smile. Although many of the masks have been found in burials, they could also have been worn during life.
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.
Fun Facts
- This mask was featured in the World of Ancient Gold exhibit at the New York's World's Fair, Travel and Transportation Pavilion (April 22-October 18, 1964).
- Nicknamed "Rocky" by museum staff, traces of red paint remain on the surface. It has been cleaned and ironed, and many scratches remain on the front.
- The Funerary Mask at the Museo del Oro (#3950, hammered gold, Valle del Cavca, Restrepo) is close enough to the DMA's mask that it may be by the same maker.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Calima, Ilama period, 800–100 B.C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on TMS, 06/18/14, 01/12/16, 03/25/16, 03/30/16, and 03/31/16.
- Fun Facts Sources: TMS, Object Record (1976.W.321), Published References: cited in Clemencia Plazas de Nieto & Ana-Maria Falchetti de Saenz, EL DORADO: COLOMBIAN GOLD (The Australian Art Exhibitions Corporation, 1978), Calima Cat. #1; Jo Ann Griffin, Conservator, 02/18/77; "Inventory Description, Conservator's Notes," in DMA Object File, Ceremonial mask (1976.W.321) (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, n.d.), 2, 4).
Cultures
Native Coastal Ecuadorian and Colombian styles: AAT: 300017980
Pre-Columbian Colombian styles: AAT: 300017422
Calima: AAT: 300017424
Geography
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
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
Historical periods
Ilama Period (Pre-Columbian Colombian styles): DMA
Individuals
Subject terms
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
figures: AAT: 300189808
human figures: AAT: 300404114
male: AAT: 300189559
faces: AAT: 300251798
teeth (animal components): AAT: 300400467
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
nose: DMA
triangular (polygonal): AAT: 300263833
mouth: DMA
rectangles (parallelograms): AAT: 300055636
round (shape): AAT: 300121969
oval (shape): AAT: 300263817
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
burials: AAT: 300263485
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244
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, purchased from the above [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from A.L. Woodman, Chief Valuation Analysis Section of the Internal Revenue Service, to Harry S. Parker, Director of 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
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1976.W.321
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object_notes_3_a-0658.xml.nores