GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Jade and other greenstones were the most precious materials for the ancient Maya, equivalent to emeralds and diamonds in Western culture. Not only was jade carved into beads that functioned as both jewelry and currency, but this lustrous material was also carved into magical objects that were alive with soul-force and, thus, either useful or potentially harmful.
The carved images kings wore on their foreheads and chests projected supernatural power. This carved jadeite plaque fragment would have likely been suspended from a necklace originally. The male figure is shown in profile and wears earspools and an elaborate headdress with a large animal face, the mouth or beak extending over the head. Further costume details are absent, but the facial features are common among the Maya; specifically the elongated forehead is a sign of cranial deformation in which head flattening or binding intentionally alters the shape of the skull, a form of ritual beautification common among the Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples. This image may represent an ancestor, an elite individual, or the ruler himself.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1968.20], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1973.46], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Getty Vocabulary, AAT (pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002).
NOTES
- Maya, Late Classic, 600–900 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13.
- Part of same accession (2008.74-90); share 1 object file (2 folders); 2008.79 has individual TMS object record.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Maya: AAT: 300017826
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099
Geography
Guatemala (nation): TGN: 7005493
Process/materials
jadeite (mineral): AAT: 300011121
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
plaque (flat objects): AAT: 300010262
fragments (object portions): AAT: 300117130
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
green (color): AAT: 300128438
figures: AAT: 300189808
profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319
head: AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
face: DMA
male: AAT: 300189559
ancestors: AAT: 300255718
king: AAT: 300025481
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
headdress: AAT: 300046023
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
earspools: AAT: 300209300
ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
beautification: AAT: 300111985
body modification: AAT: 300262468
deformation: AAT: 300072976
precious (concept / condition): DMA
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 2008.79
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General Description
Jade and other greenstones were the most precious materials for the ancient Maya, equivalent to emeralds and diamonds in Western culture. Not only was jade carved into beads that functioned as both jewelry and currency, but this lustrous material was also carved into magical objects that were alive with soul-force and, thus, either useful or potentially harmful.
The carved images kings wore on their foreheads and chests projected supernatural power. This carved jadeite plaque fragment would have likely been suspended from a necklace originally. The male figure is shown in profile and wears earspools and an elaborate headdress with a large animal face, the mouth or beak extending over the head. Further costume details are absent, but the facial features are common among the Maya; specifically the elongated forehead is a sign of cranial deformation in which head flattening or binding intentionally alters the shape of the skull, a form of ritual beautification common among the Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples. This image may represent an ancestor, an elite individual, or the ruler himself.
Elaine Higgins Smith, Digital Collections Content Coordinator, 2016.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1968.20], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1973.46], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- Getty Vocabulary, AAT (pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002).
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Maya, Late Classic, 600–900 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13.
- Part of same accession (2008.74-90); share 1 object file (2 folders); 2008.79 has individual TMS object record.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Maya: AAT: 300017826
Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099
Geography
Guatemala (nation): TGN: 7005493
Process/materials
jadeite (mineral): AAT: 300011121
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986
Individuals
Subject terms
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
plaque (flat objects): AAT: 300010262
fragments (object portions): AAT: 300117130
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
pendants (jewelry): AAT: 300046002
green (color): AAT: 300128438
figures: AAT: 300189808
profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319
head: AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
face: DMA
male: AAT: 300189559
ancestors: AAT: 300255718
king: AAT: 300025481
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
headdress: AAT: 300046023
earrings (jewelry): AAT: 300045998
earspools: AAT: 300209300
ear ornaments: AAT: 300211279
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
beautification: AAT: 300111985
body modification: AAT: 300262468
deformation: AAT: 300072976
precious (concept / condition): DMA
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
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2008.79
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