Zoo Morph
Collection: Houston Public Library (HPL)
excavated 1883
Carved Dolomitic limestone
Location:
Houston Public Library Central Branch Art Vault
500 McKinney St
Houston, TX 77002
About the Artwork:
Zoo Morph (excavated 1883)
by unknown
The word Zoomorph, the title of this piece, comes from Ancient Greek by combining zōon, meaning animal, and morphē, meaning form. It has two meanings: an artistic representation of something in animal form; or a deity that has an animal's form or characteristics. This sculpture is carved from dolomitic limestone and was allegedly discovered in 1883 in a Native American burial mound on a west Missouri farm. This mysterious piece sits 42 inches long and represents an animal with various confounding features, such as: four legs but also two back fins; a beetle-like shell with wings on its back; what seems to be a turtle-like head with a beak and a horn; and a long, lizard-like tail. This sculpture is featured in a 2007 documentary titled “The Disappointment: Or, The Force of Credulity” directed by Brian Springer about his family and treasures buried on that same Missouri farm, including Spanish gold, an anarchist’s lost diary, Civil War silver, and this piece, which also serves as the film’s narrator. According to the film, archaeologists have either declared this sculpture as a fraud or cannot explain it. What do you think it is?
Zoo Morph (excavated 1883)
by unknown
The word Zoomorph, the title of this piece, comes from Ancient Greek by combining zōon, meaning animal, and morphē, meaning form. It has two meanings: an artistic representation of something in animal form; or a deity that has an animal's form or characteristics. This sculpture is carved from dolomitic limestone and was allegedly discovered in 1883 in a Native American burial mound on a west Missouri farm. This mysterious piece sits 42 inches long and represents an animal with various confounding features, such as: four legs but also two back fins; a beetle-like shell with wings on its back; what seems to be a turtle-like head with a beak and a horn; and a long, lizard-like tail. This sculpture is featured in a 2007 documentary titled “The Disappointment: Or, The Force of Credulity” directed by Brian Springer about his family and treasures buried on that same Missouri farm, including Spanish gold, an anarchist’s lost diary, Civil War silver, and this piece, which also serves as the film’s narrator. According to the film, archaeologists have either declared this sculpture as a fraud or cannot explain it. What do you think it is?
Zoomorfo (excavado en 1883)
por desconocido
por desconocido
La palabra Zoomorfo, el título de esta obra, proviene del griego antiguo al combinar zōon, que significa animal, y morphē, que significa forma. Tiene dos significados: una representación artística de algo en forma animal; o una deidad que tiene la forma o características de un animal. Esta escultura está tallada en piedra caliza dolomítica y supuestamente fue descubierta en 1883 en un túmulo funerario de nativos americanos en una granja del oeste de Missouri. Esta misteriosa obra mide 42 pulgadas de largo y representa un animal con varias características desconcertantes, tales como: cuatro patas pero también dos aletas traseras; un caparazón parecido a un escarabajo con alas en su espalda; lo que parece ser una cabeza parecida a una tortuga con un pico y un cuerno; y una cola larga parecida a la de un lagarto. Esta escultura aparece en un documental de 2007 titulado “The Disappointment: Or, The Force of Credulity,” dirigido por Brian Springer sobre su familia y los tesoros enterrados en esa misma granja de Missouri, incluido el oro español, el diario perdido de un anarquista, plata de la Guerra Civil, y esta obra, que también sirve como narrador de la película. Según la película, los arqueólogos han declarado que esta escultura es un fraude o no pueden explicarla. ¿Qué crees que sea?