Dancing Figure Whistle
(Ancient Americas )
This dancer is shown mid step, with arms outstretched and knees flexed. Both his hands have holes where small dance decorations, such as fans or maracas, were once placed. He wears an elaborately wrapped turbanlike headdress, and anklets, a necklace, and a vest which all would have made music along with the dance steps. The figure is also a whistle, and one can imagine a dancer or his accompanist playing such an instrument to structure the steps of a dance.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Sotheby's New York, 1989, Lot no. 156; David Stuart Galleries, by purchase; John G. Bourne, 1980s, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2009, by gift.
Exhibitions
2018-2019 | Transformation: Art of the Ancient Americas. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
2012-2013 | Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection Gift. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville. |
1998-2008 | Art of Ancient America, 1500 B.C.-1400 A.D.. Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe. |
Geographies
Mexico, Colima (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 9 3/16 x W: 6 5/8 x D: 4 in. (23.34 x 16.76 x 10.16 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John Bourne, 2009
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
2009.20.29