GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This carved bone implement is incised with a woven mat design and crowned by foliage at the top. Scholars have associated these types of interwoven designs with royalty and thus may have identified the owner as a member of the elite, perhaps a ruler. Though the function of this implement is unknown, sharpened bones were often used as bloodletting implements to pierce the body and collect blood. Through ritual bloodletting, the king could connect to the spiritual world and harness its power. For the Maya, this act of self-sacrifice was necessary in order to maintain balance within the supernatural world and legitimize rulership, which would further connect this imagery to its function.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.
Drawn from
- Mary Ellen Miller and Megan E. O'Neil, Maya art and architecture, 2nd edition (London: Thames & Hudson, 2014): 30, 152-154, 245.
- Elin C. Danien, "A Reinterpretation of the Chamá Vase," in The Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI). http://www.famsi.org/research/kerr/articles/chama/. Accessed 31 August 2015.
NOTES
- Maya, Late Classic, 600–900 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13 and 06/19/14.
- Part of same accession (2008.74-90); share 1 object file (2 folders); 2008.85 has individual TMS object record.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Maya: AAT: 300017826
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099
Geography
Process/materials
bone (material): AAT: 300011798
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
piercing tools (equipment): AAT: 300024788
cutting tools (equipment): AAT: 300024662
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
blade (tool and equipment components): AAT: 30002491
cutting (dividing): AAT: 300053069
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
autosacrifice (self-sacrifice / bloodletting): DMA
rituals (events): AAT: 300065284
ceremonies: AAT: 300054754
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
rulership: DMA
mats (floor coverings): AAT: 300186112
mat design (motif): DMA
woven (motif): DMA
braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
piercing tools (equipment): AAT: 300024788
cutting tools (equipment): AAT: 300024662
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
blade (tool and equipment components): AAT: 30002491
cutting (dividing): AAT: 300053069
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
autosacrifice (self-sacrifice / bloodletting): DMA
rituals (events): AAT: 300065284
ceremonies: AAT: 300054754
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
kingship (rulership / culture-related concepts): AAT: 300404762
mats (floor coverings): AAT: 300186112
mat design (motif): DMA
woven (pattern / motif): DMA
braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until d. 2007: Jerry L. Abramson (d. 2007), Dallas [1], [2], [3]
From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, given in memory of Jerry L. Abramson by his estate [1], [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, to Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated December 22, 2008, 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 receipt and release form signed by Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, and Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2008.85
Category
rules_operator
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General Description
This carved bone implement is incised with a woven mat design and crowned by foliage at the top. Scholars have associated these types of interwoven designs with royalty and thus may have identified the owner as a member of the elite, perhaps a ruler. Though the function of this implement is unknown, sharpened bones were often used as bloodletting implements to pierce the body and collect blood. Through ritual bloodletting, the king could connect to the spiritual world and harness its power. For the Maya, this act of self-sacrifice was necessary in order to maintain balance within the supernatural world and legitimize rulership, which would further connect this imagery to its function.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.
Drawn from
- Mary Ellen Miller and Megan E. O'Neil, Maya art and architecture, 2nd edition (London: Thames & Hudson, 2014): 30, 152-154, 245.
- Elin C. Danien, "A Reinterpretation of the Chamá Vase," in The Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI). http://www.famsi.org/research/kerr/articles/chama/. Accessed 31 August 2015.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Maya, Late Classic, 600–900 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13 and 06/19/14.
- Part of same accession (2008.74-90); share 1 object file (2 folders); 2008.85 has individual TMS object record.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Maya: AAT: 300017826
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099
Geography
Process/materials
bone (material): AAT: 300011798
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
piercing tools (equipment): AAT: 300024788
cutting tools (equipment): AAT: 300024662
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
blade (tool and equipment components): AAT: 30002491
cutting (dividing): AAT: 300053069
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
autosacrifice (self-sacrifice / bloodletting): DMA
rituals (events): AAT: 300065284
ceremonies: AAT: 300054754
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
rulership: DMA
mats (floor coverings): AAT: 300186112
mat design (motif): DMA
woven (motif): DMA
braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
piercing tools (equipment): AAT: 300024788
cutting tools (equipment): AAT: 300024662
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
blade (tool and equipment components): AAT: 30002491
cutting (dividing): AAT: 300053069
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
autosacrifice (self-sacrifice / bloodletting): DMA
rituals (events): AAT: 300065284
ceremonies: AAT: 300054754
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
kingship (rulership / culture-related concepts): AAT: 300404762
mats (floor coverings): AAT: 300186112
mat design (motif): DMA
woven (pattern / motif): DMA
braids (motifs): AAT: 300400658
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until d. 2007: Jerry L. Abramson (d. 2007), Dallas [1], [2], [3]
From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, given in memory of Jerry L. Abramson by his estate [1], [2], [3]
[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, to Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated December 22, 2008, 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 receipt and release form signed by Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, and Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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Objects
number
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2008.85
source file
object_notes_3_a-0778.xml.nores