Judy Chicago (American, born 1939). <em>Amazon Place Setting</em>, 1974–1979. Runner: Cotton/linen base fabric, woven interface support material (horsehair, wool, and linen), cotton twill tape, silk, synthetic gold cord, snake skin, silk, linen, titanium, satin thread, cotton floss, thread
Plate:Porcelain with overglaze enamel (China paint), silver metallic glaze, gold metallic glaze, and rainbow luster, Runner:52 5/8 x 31 3/4 in. (133.7 x 80.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation, 2002.10-PS-7. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2002.10-PS-7_plate_PS9.jpg)

Judy Chicago (American, born 1939). Amazon Place Setting, 1974–1979. Runner: Cotton/linen base fabric, woven interface support material (horsehair, wool, and linen), cotton twill tape, silk, synthetic gold cord, snake skin, silk, linen, titanium, satin thread, cotton floss, thread Plate:Porcelain with overglaze enamel (China paint), silver metallic glaze, gold metallic glaze, and rainbow luster, Runner:52 5/8 x 31 3/4 in. (133.7 x 80.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation, 2002.10-PS-7. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2002.10-PS-7_plate_PS9.jpg)

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Tell me more about the Amazon.

The Dinner Party was constructed in the late 1970s as a monument to the women forgotten by history. The Amazon setting is named after a mythical tribe of warrior women. The setting is meant to represent powerful women in ancient and modern history. Amazon queens are known from literature to have played key roles in stories like the Trojan War.

Were they real or mythical?

We have not found evidence of the Amazons yet, so at this point they are still believed to be mythical.

Having a hard time relating the imagery in the plate to the Amazon.

The Amazon plate refers to the legendary tribe of warrior women from Greek mythology. The place setting takes some elements of the mythology very literally. Beginning with the plate: The center is supposed to be read as an egg which represents fertility like many of these early plates. Moving downward, we see two breasts with what looks like silver and gold nipples...

This is a reference to the mythology: Amazonian women were said to either wear metal armor or cut off one or both of their breasts to make archery easier. Finally, the two shapes at the top are meant to resemble battle axes.

On the runner: The lacing on the sides is meant as a reference to soldiers' boots, reinforcing the Amazons as warriors.

If you move around the table so you can see the back of this runner, it includes the same egg and battle axes as the plate with the addition of a triangle, a feminine symbol, and crescent moons.

Thanks!

The back of this runner looks Masonic?

This place setting is dedicated to "Amazon," in reference to the legendary Amazons, a tribe of all-female warriors from Greek mythology.

The black stone and red crescent on the back was an early symbol of mother goddesses in the Near East.

I see.

Could you tell me more about the reasoning behind Amazon attending the Dinner Party, as well as more information on the place setting? Thanks.

Amazons were a legendary, probably mythological, tribe of warrior women said to live to the northeast of the traditional Greek homeland. They are said to descend from Ares, the Greek god of war; Otrera was the first queen of the Amazons, also called the mother of the Amazons, and according to various Classical literature she was either Ares' daughter or his wife. Amazonian forces play a role in the legendary Trojan War.

The color palate is based on representations of Amazons in ancient Greek art. The breasts covered in gold and silver symbolize battle armor and the legend that Amazonian archers would cut off one or both breasts so they didn't get in the way. The white egg at the center is a symbol of fertility.

Like the plate, the colors on the runner are based on representations of Amazons. The back of the runner includes many of the same symbols with the addition of the feminine triangle. Along the sides, lacing alludes to soldiers' boots. The lacing and the ax-heads are secured with knots of copper fibers, and allusion to the studs on soldiers' boots.

And is it ok, there's Amazon as a guest?

No corporations at this table! The only Amazons allowed are the warrior women kind.

Yes, I realized this. Interesting they got their name from warrior women.

Yes. In fact, the Amazon forest was also named for them!

Wow! Yes, it is like a revival of those women who start fighting since the very beginning to have equal rights. A remembrance, all cultures, all times. It is really beautiful.

It's one of my favorite pieces in the museum. I could look at it for hours! And very powerful. Of course there are so many names that could be added, but it is a testament to the work that female artists did to start bringing powerful women out of obscurity.

Thank you!

Why did the artist sometimes use general names like Amazon or Sophia?

That's a great question; sometimes Judy Chicago chose to represent a group of women rather than a single person. The Amazons, for instance, were a legendary (and likely mythical) tribe of warrior women who played a role in the Trojan War.

Sophia is a Greek personification of wisdom, and appears here as a representative for wisdom goddesses such as Athena (Greek tradition) or Prajnaparamita (Buddhist tradition).

Amazon Place Setting

Judy Chicago

Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art

On View: Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, 4th Floor

ARTIST Judy Chicago, American, born 1939

MEDIUM Runner: Cotton/linen base fabric, woven interface support material (horsehair, wool, and linen), cotton twill tape, silk, synthetic gold cord, snake skin, silk, linen, titanium, satin thread, cotton floss, thread Plate:Porcelain with overglaze enamel (China paint), silver metallic glaze, gold metallic glaze, and rainbow luster

DATES 1974–1979

DIMENSIONS Runner:52 5/8 x 31 3/4 in. (133.7 x 80.6 cm) Plate:14 x 14 x 1 in. (35.6 x 35.6 x 2.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 2002.10-PS-7

CREDIT LINE Gift of The Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, 4th Floor

CAPTION Judy Chicago (American, born 1939). Amazon Place Setting, 1974–1979. Runner: Cotton/linen base fabric, woven interface support material (horsehair, wool, and linen), cotton twill tape, silk, synthetic gold cord, snake skin, silk, linen, titanium, satin thread, cotton floss, thread Plate:Porcelain with overglaze enamel (China paint), silver metallic glaze, gold metallic glaze, and rainbow luster, Runner:52 5/8 x 31 3/4 in. (133.7 x 80.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation, 2002.10-PS-7. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2002.10-PS-7_plate_PS9.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 2002.10-PS-7_plate_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013

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RIGHTS STATEMENT © Judy Chicago

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