MMA 2011.154.15

Bannerstone view 2011.154.15
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15a
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15b
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d1
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d2
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d3
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d4
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d5
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d6
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d7
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d8
Bannerstone view 2011.154.15d9

About this Bannerstone

BA#

121

Catalog or Accession #

2011.154.15

Date Studied

7/26/2023

Bannerstone Type

Perforation

Condition

Provenance/Provenience

Fulton County, Illinois. Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe Collection until 2010. Gift of the Ralph T. Coe Foundation for the Arts in 2010-2011.

Location

Color

Orange and off-white

Width (cm)

7.6

Height (cm)

13.3

Diameter of Perforation (cm)

1.3

Depth at Perforation/or Widest Point (cm)

2.4

Depth at Edge (cm)

0.3

Weight (g)

349.89

Notes

Archaic sculptors often chose to create bannerstones out of ferruginous quartz due to its high contrast of milky white intermixed with iron minerals in shades of deep saturated oranges, reds, or pinks. This particular bannerstone is twice the size and weight of most bannerstones placing it in the category of a rare “hypertrophic” [relatively large] sculpture. Whatever the purpose of bannerstones in the Archaic period, this one would have been too large and too heavy to be placed on a throwing stick, or part of everyday use. It would have been singled out for special, perhaps ceremonial performances or display. Along the edges and perforation there are little to no signs of wear, further indicating that this was a unique bannerstone similar to ceremonial axes or celts made by ancient artists of North and Central America including the Olmec and Maya. On one side of the stone Fulton Co Ill. is written in black on a white label. This refers to Fulton County in Illinois, presumably where this bannerstone was found. 2011.154.15 is written in red on one end above the perforation. On one side of the stone Fulton Co Ill. is written in black on a white label. This refers to Fulton County in Illinois, presumably where this bannerstone was found. 2011.154.15 is written in red on one end along the perforation.

Date

6000-1000 BCE

Rights

These images may be downloaded and used freely for teaching and personal use. Include the credit line "© Anna Blume, 2021, Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art" along with the object's Catalog Number. Publishing of images is permitted with additional permission from the MMA. For additional publishing questions, contact [email protected].

Citation

“MMA 2011.154.15,” FIT Bannerstone Project, accessed December 2, 2024, https://bannerstone.fitnyc.edu/items/show/278.

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