According to legend, every Leprechaun has a pot of gold, secreted deep in the Irish countryside. In order to keep their treasure safe, the Irish fairies gave the Leprechauns magic to use in case of capture. The fairy magic allowed them to grant three wishes or to vanish into thin air!
Based on these tales, it seems that Dallas has a Leprechaun of its own. The DMA is filled with an abundance of gold representing numerous lands over many years, something very magical indeed. All of the gold is carefully protected by fairies . . . ahemm . . . I mean gallery attendants. You can look, but don’t touch! That would make our mischievous Leprechauns . . . I mean curators . . . very upset.
If you happen to spot a rainbow this afternoon, don’t be surprised if it leads you right here, to Dallas’s biggest pot of gold!
Images: Gerd Rothmann, neckalace, n.d., Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Edward W. and Deedie Potter Rose, formerly Inge Asenbaum collection, gallery Am Graben in Vienna, © Gerd Rothmann, 2014.33.284; Bruno Martinazzi, bracelet, 1969, gold and silver, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Edward W. and Deedie Potter Rose, formerly Inge Asenbaum collection, gallery Am Graben in Vienna, © Bruno Martinazzi, 2014.33.353; Graduated shell dish, Fitz & Floyd, Chunichi Toki Company, 1983, porcelain and gilding, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Robert C. Floyd, 1998.129.1; Velma Davis Dozier, pin, 1969, cast gold with diamonds, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Otis and Velma Dozier, © Denni Davis Washburn, William Robert Miegel Jr, and Elizabeth Marie Miegel, 1979.25; Jaguar effigy, A.D. 800-1200, gold, Dallas Museum of Art, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison, 1976.W.261; Pendant with two figures, A.D. 700-1520, gold-copper alloy (tumbaga), Dallas Museum of Art, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison, 1976.W.245; Cow’s head stirrup cup. n.d., glazed earthenware and paint, Dallas Museum of Art, the Patsy Lacy Griffith Collection, bequest of Patsy Lacy Griffith, 2001.134; Single snake armlet, 1st century A.D., gold, Dallas Museum of Art, Museum League Purchase Funds, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., and Cecil H. and Ida M. Green in honor of Virginia Lucas Nick, 1991.75.92.1; Scissors, 20th century, brass, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Elizabeth Weaver, 1993.68.97; Ring, Claus Bury, 1971, gold and acrylic, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Edward W. and Deedie Potter Rose, formerly Inge Asenbaum collection, gallery Am Graben in Vienna © Claus Bury, 2014.33.45
Julie Henley is the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at the DMA.
