GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Tembladera was an ancient burial site in the Jequetepeque Valley on Peru's north coast. Several dozen hollow figurines of ovoid shape have been recovered there, which likely functioned as funerary offerings. Uniquely costumed and decorated with abstract features, each figurine imparts a sense of concealed identity. Although elaborate costumes and mask-like visages cloak individual personalities, the figurines reveal ancient north coast ritual attire and practices.
In this ceramic image of a flute player, the upright musician holds a double flute in front of him. The figure wears a simple loincloth, a necklace or collar of long beads or fibers, and a very elaborate bird headdress with wings encircling the figure’s head and a tail flowing down the back. Incised lines around the eyes indicate the musician's maturity. Raised decorative bands define his headdress and costume, as well as facial decorations that may represent a mask or face paint. Face painting, which may have been a standard feature of musicians’ costumes, is portrayed here with incised and painted designs. Music has long accompanied Andean ceremonies and the flute, often used as the voice of birds and spirits, continues to be used today in Andean folk music.
Adapted from
- Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries.
- Anne R. Bromberg, Dallas Museum of Art: Selected Works (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1983), 32.
- DMA unpublished material.
NOTES
- Tembladera, Early Horizon, 500–300 B.C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 10/15/13 and 11/29/13.
- Wall label notes Early Horizon, c. 900-200 B.C., Peru, north coast, Jequetepeque Valley, Tembladera style [No culture noted]
- Fun Facts Source: TMS, Notes / Curatorial Remarks (n.d.), citing Walter Alva, Ceramica Temprana en el Valle de Jequetepeque (Munich: Verlag C. H. Beck, 1986): figures 461 - 470.
- General Description drawn from: DMA Label Copy (1971.19), n.d.; DMA unpublished material [TMS, Notes / Curatorial Remarks (n.d.); Object Information Card (1969.30), n.d., Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File].
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Cupisnique (Coast Chavin): AAT: 30017270
Tembladera (culture): DMA
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Jequetepeque (Río): TGN: 1125162
Cajamarca (region): TGN: 1000547
Cajamarca (inhabited place): TGN: 7016590
Tembladera (burial site): DMA
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
appliqué (technique): AAT: 300053646
incising: AAT: 300053847
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
relief: AAT: 300053622
hollow (form attribute): AAT: 300163023
Historical periods
Initial Period: AAT: 300017264
Early Horizon: AAT: 300017267
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
figurine: AAT: 300047455
effigies: AAT: 300047108
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
man: AAT: 300025928
figures: AAT: 300189808
headdress: AAT: 300046023
headbands (headgear): AAT: 300046115
diadems (headbands): AAT: 300046021
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
loincloths (main garments): AAT: 300209923
animals: DMA
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
step pattern: AAT: 300010229
stepped frets (meanders (patterns)/motifs): AAT: 300010171
animals: DMA
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
eagle (bird): AAT: 300250049
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
red (color): AAT: 300126225
white (color): AAT: 300129784
burials: AAT: 300263485
flutes (aerophones / instrument): AAT: 300042513
multiple flutes (flutes / aerophones): AAT: 300042715
flutists (wind instrumentalists): AAT: 300235053
musician: AAT: 300025666
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1971: Leon Buki, Flushing, NY [1]
From 1971: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, General Acquisitions Fund [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Object Information Card (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated April 13, 1971, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). 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
253363498: UMO. [Caption] Double Flutes (akkordflute and dvojnice). Source: Claire H., Wikimedia Commons, accessed: April 27, 2015, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Akkordflute_and_dvojnice.jpg.
WEB RESOURCES
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about music in the Andes.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about birds in the Andes.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- Three similar figurines from the Museum of the American Indian were collected in the Jequetepeque Valley in the 1920's, and others were found in the Zana and Chancay Valleys.
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1971.19
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Tembladera was an ancient burial site in the Jequetepeque Valley on Peru's north coast. Several dozen hollow figurines of ovoid shape have been recovered there, which likely functioned as funerary offerings. Uniquely costumed and decorated with abstract features, each figurine imparts a sense of concealed identity. Although elaborate costumes and mask-like visages cloak individual personalities, the figurines reveal ancient north coast ritual attire and practices.
In this ceramic image of a flute player, the upright musician holds a double flute in front of him. The figure wears a simple loincloth, a necklace or collar of long beads or fibers, and a very elaborate bird headdress with wings encircling the figure’s head and a tail flowing down the back. Incised lines around the eyes indicate the musician's maturity. Raised decorative bands define his headdress and costume, as well as facial decorations that may represent a mask or face paint. Face painting, which may have been a standard feature of musicians’ costumes, is portrayed here with incised and painted designs. Music has long accompanied Andean ceremonies and the flute, often used as the voice of birds and spirits, continues to be used today in Andean folk music.
Adapted from
- Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries.
- Anne R. Bromberg, Dallas Museum of Art: Selected Works (Dallas, TX: Dallas Museum of Art, 1983), 32.
- DMA unpublished material.
Fun Facts
- Three similar figurines from the Museum of the American Indian were collected in the Jequetepeque Valley in the 1920's, and others were found in the Zana and Chancay Valleys.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about music in the Andes.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about birds in the Andes.
Notes
- Tembladera, Early Horizon, 500–300 B.C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 10/15/13 and 11/29/13.
- Wall label notes Early Horizon, c. 900-200 B.C., Peru, north coast, Jequetepeque Valley, Tembladera style [No culture noted]
- Fun Facts Source: TMS, Notes / Curatorial Remarks (n.d.), citing Walter Alva, Ceramica Temprana en el Valle de Jequetepeque (Munich: Verlag C. H. Beck, 1986): figures 461 - 470.
- General Description drawn from: DMA Label Copy (1971.19), n.d.; DMA unpublished material [TMS, Notes / Curatorial Remarks (n.d.); Object Information Card (1969.30), n.d., Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File].
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Cupisnique (Coast Chavin): AAT: 30017270
Tembladera (culture): DMA
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Jequetepeque (Río): TGN: 1125162
Cajamarca (region): TGN: 1000547
Cajamarca (inhabited place): TGN: 7016590
Tembladera (burial site): DMA
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
appliqué (technique): AAT: 300053646
incising: AAT: 300053847
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
relief: AAT: 300053622
hollow (form attribute): AAT: 300163023
Historical periods
Initial Period: AAT: 300017264
Early Horizon: AAT: 300017267
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
figurine: AAT: 300047455
effigies: AAT: 300047108
funerary objects: AAT: 300234126
man: AAT: 300025928
figures: AAT: 300189808
headdress: AAT: 300046023
headbands (headgear): AAT: 300046115
diadems (headbands): AAT: 300046021
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
loincloths (main garments): AAT: 300209923
animals: DMA
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
step pattern: AAT: 300010229
stepped frets (meanders (patterns)/motifs): AAT: 300010171
animals: DMA
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
eagle (bird): AAT: 300250049
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
red (color): AAT: 300126225
white (color): AAT: 300129784
burials: AAT: 300263485
flutes (aerophones / instrument): AAT: 300042513
multiple flutes (flutes / aerophones): AAT: 300042715
flutists (wind instrumentalists): AAT: 300235053
musician: AAT: 300025666
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1971: Leon Buki, Flushing, NY [1]
From 1971: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, General Acquisitions Fund [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is Object Information Card (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Record (dated April 13, 1971, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File, Confidential). 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
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1971.19
source file
object_notes_3_b-0004.xml.nores