Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Art History Virtual Exhibition

Earring Reproductions of a Quimbaya Female Shaman Pendant Original: Quimbaya culture, 1st-9th century Reproduction: Colombian Mestizo cultures, 20th century Reproduction: Brass and gold paint, L. 2.4 cm x W. 7 mm x H. 4 cm BFPC collection #2018.31

Ancient Isthmian Metalwork in Reproduction: Researched by Trevor Heitz

January, 2021 by Sarah Teel

Contrary to popular misconceptions, metalwork dates back to very ancient times in the Americas, with copperworking in the Great Lakes Region of North America starting as early as 5,000 BCE.  By the first millennium BCE, the Andean cultures of South America had developed metalwork processes, and these practices spread up into the Isthmian region of lower Central America by the middle of the same millennium, and reached Mesoamerica long before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.  Highly skilled metalwork techniques including smelting, forging, lost-wax casting, depletion gilding, and granulation were developed in order to create elaborate decorative items, and symbolic works in gold, silver, and tumbaga (a mixture of gold and copper) reached a pinnacle of sophistication among the ancient Isthmian cultures.

Cufflinks with Reproductions of a Tolima Anthropomorphic Pendant
Original: Tolima culture, 5th-10th century
Reproduction: Colombian Mestizo cultures, 20th century
Reproduction: Base metal, L. 1.6 cm x W. 1 mm x H. 2.2 cm
BFPC collection #2018.33

These small cufflinks illustrate a reproduction of an anthropomorphic figure used in Tolima culture pendants made of tumbaga. Clearly a symbol of status, these large figures combine animal and human imagery into symbolic images, and the resulting creature likely represented a link between the spirit world and the physical world.

Pendant Reproduction of a Gran Chiriquí Pendant
Original: Gran Chiriquí culture, 11th-16th century
Reproduction: Panamanian Mestizo cultures, 20th century
Reproduction: Base metal, L. 2.5 cm x W. 1 cm x H. 3.8 cm
BFPC collection #2018.30

The nude anthropomorphic male figure portrayed in this reproduction pendant strongly reflects the style of the Gran Chiriquí culture.  The figure has a stylized face with a wide, slit mouth, slit eyes, and two spirals for ears.  The figure holds an object in each hand that extends to the sides of its legs, and these objects may represent simplified versions of flutes or snakes, which are seen in similar pendants.

Earring Reproductions of a Quimbaya Female Shaman Pendant
Original: Quimbaya culture, 1st-9th century
Reproduction: Colombian Mestizo cultures, 20th century
Reproduction: Brass and gold paint, L. 2.4 cm x W. 7 mm x H. 4 cm
BFPC collection #2018.31

While the faces of these reproduction earrings may resemble Gran Chiriquí motifs in some of its features, such as the double-spiral ears, other characteristics associate them more closely with the Quimbaya cultures of Colombia.  Among these features are the relatively small, flat, slit eyes, the small slit mouths, and heavy, curved brows.  Like the other objects in this display, such gold and tumbaga ornaments were decorative, but functioned to show high status.

Pin Reproduction of a Tairona Anthropomorphic Cacique
Original: Tairona culture, 10th-16th century
Reproduction: Colombian Mestizo cultures, 20th century
Reproduction: Brass with gold paint, L. 2.6 cm x W. 1 cm x H. 3.8 cm
BFPC collection #2018.32

 

Cufflink Reproductions of a Tairona Anthropomorphic Cacique
Original: Tairona culture, 10th-16th century
Reproduction: Colombian Mestizo cultures, 20th century
Reproduction: Base metal and plastic, L. 2.9 cm x W. 7 mm x H. 2.6 cm
BFPC collection #2013.34

This pin and this pair cufflinks all show representations of anthropomorphic figures made in the style of the Tairona culture.  Each bold figure stands solidly, with legs slightly apart and feet facing forward, elbows bent, and hands on the hips; each figure also wears a wide decorative collar, a heavy belt, and a large, half-circle headdress that indicates high status.  In addition, these figures illustrate upturned, stylized noses that may associate them with bats and indicate a supernatural hybrid.  All such powerful figures are called caciques, a native word meaning “chief,” because they clearly represent high-status individuals.

 

 

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu

Filed Under: 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas Tagged With: 20th century art, colombia, colombian mestizo cultures, gran chiriquí, Gran Chiriquí culture, isthmian metalwork, metalwork, panama, panamanian mestizo cultures, quimbaya culture, quimbaya female shaman, reproductions, tairona cacique, tairona culture, tolima culture, tolima pendant

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • 2014 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2015 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2016 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2016 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2018 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2020 Spring, ART 386: Art of Africa

Tags

20th century 20th century art africa african art African basketry akua'ba american midwest american midwest culture american midwest ozarks culture art of africa asante culture bamana culture basketry baule culture beadwork bobo culture bonniebrook ceramics ceremonial masks chancay culture conservation early 20th century footstone gravestone headstone kente cloth kifwebe mask kuba culture kuna culture lakota culture late 20th century mask mola ndebele culture oceania ozarks culture panama papua new guinea ralph foster museum senufo culture Sioux Culture staffs staffs of power tanzania zulu culture

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: January 8, 2021
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information