1973.71 Vessel: Fish with Open Mouth (Olmec, Mexico, Puebla)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Olmec site of Las Bocas, near the modern town of Izúcar de Matamoros in western Puebla, is a source of ceramics in the Olmec style. A refined naturalism, characteristic of the Las Bocas style, is present in this example. Many Mesoamerican peoples believed that the present world emerged out of a primordial sea and that the souls of the dead returned to such a watery place. This open-mouthed fish effigy was probably placed in a grave or tomb to accompany the dead back to the original sea.

Adapted from

Carol Robbins, Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
Carol Robbins, Label text [1993.80 and 1993.81], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.

NOTES

Olmec, Formative period, 1150–550 B.C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 10/16/13, 03/14/16, 03/21/16, and 01/10/17.
Fun Facts Source: Carol Robbins, TMS, Notes / Curatorial Remarks, n.d. (citing Muriel Porter Weaver, The Aztecs, Maya, and their Predecessors (New York: Seminar Press, 1972): 70 (figure 4d).

Catalogue essays

A Gift of Ancient Art from Mexico

Artist/designers

Cultures

Olmec

Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619

Olmec: AAT: 300017051

Geography

Mesoamerica

Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560

Puebla (state): TGN: 7005592

Las Bocas (deserted settlement / Puebla): DMA

Process/materials

Olmec Ceramics

ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507

clay: AAT: 300010439

resin (organic material): AAT: 300012882

paint (coating): AAT: 300015029

glazing (coating): AAT: 300053914

incising: AAT: 300053847

slip (clay): AAT: 300010459

slip glaze: AAT: 300015110

coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903

modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130

slab method (pottery technique): AAT: 300053905

incising: AAT: 300053847

burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869

firing (technique): AAT: 300053887

kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798

Historical periods

Middle Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016973

Late Preclassic Period (Formative): AAT: 300016976

Preclassic (Archaic / Formative / Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016967

Formative Period (Preclassic): AAT: 300016973

Individuals

Subject terms

sculpture: AAT: 300047090

figurine: AAT: 300047455

funerary objects: AAT: 300234126

effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108

black (color): AAT: 300130920

fish (animals): AAT: 300266085

seas: AAT: 300008694

water: AAT: 300011772

souls (spirits / beings): AAT: 300379821

underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823

burials: AAT: 300263485

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE

n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1]

Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [2]

From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott and The Eugene McDermott Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated [2], [3]

[1] The main source for this provenance is Object Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[3] 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 work is stylistically related to objects found in archaeological contexts at Tlatilco.

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

Apply to objects where number equals 1973.71