Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History

Explore Puerto Rico’s history, from the 16th to the 20th centuries, through the eyes of collector Teodoro Vidal. Vidal captured the island’s history by collecting thousands of objects. Over 80 artifacts are featured here.

This papier-mâché mask was made by Miguel Caraballo in 1985.
Description
This papier-mâché mask was made by Miguel Caraballo in 1985. Masks like this are typically worn by young men from the neighborhood, who don the costume of a vejigante , a character who roams the streets during Carnival, playfully scaring children and other revelers, and swatting them with vejigas (balloon-like, inflated animal bladders).
Description (Spanish)
Esta máscara de papel maché fue confeccionada por Miguel Caraballo en 1985.
Para la época del carnaval, los jóvenes del barrio acostumbran disfrazarse de vejigantes con máscaras como ésta y salen a deambular por las calles asustando a los niños y concurrentes a la fiesta, dándoles palmadas con sus vejigas (vejigas de animales infladas como globos y puestas a secar).
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1985
maker
Caraballo, Miguel Angel
ID Number
1997.0097.0002
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0002
Mask maker Antonio Muñiz has added the horns of a traditional carnaval de Ponce mask (usually representing a devilish face) to a gorilla.
Description
Mask maker Antonio Muñiz has added the horns of a traditional carnaval de Ponce mask (usually representing a devilish face) to a gorilla. This papier-mâché mask has an articulated jaw and a vinyl tongue.
Description (Spanish)
El artesano Antonio Muñiz creó esta máscara agregándole a un gorila los cuernos de una máscara tradicional del carnaval de Ponce (las que por lo general representan un rostro diabólico). Esta máscara de papel maché cuenta con una mandíbula articulada y una lengua de vinilo.
Collection Ethnic
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1980
maker
Muniz, Antonio
ID Number
1997.0097.0009
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0009
This elaborate mask, made around 1980, is painted in red and black, the colors of the city of Ponce.
Description
This elaborate mask, made around 1980, is painted in red and black, the colors of the city of Ponce. Masks like this are typically worn by young men from the neighborhood, who don the costume of a vejigante, a character who roams the streets during Carnival, playfully scaring children and other revelers, and swatting them with vejigas (balloon-like, inflated animal bladders).
Description (Spanish)
Esta elaborada máscara, confeccionada alrededor de 1980, está pintada en rojo y negro, los colores de la ciudad de Ponce. Para la época del carnaval, los jóvenes del barrio acostumbran a disfrazarse de vejigantes con máscaras como ésta y salen a deambular por las calles asustando a los niños y concurrentes a la fiesta, dándoles palmadas con sus vejigas (vejigas de animales infladas como globos y puestas a secar).
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1980
ID Number
1997.0097.0016
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0016
Carnival celebrations featuring performers dressed as devils are found in Puerto Rico and the rest Latin America. The presence of these characters during Carnival is understood by many as an ancient reference to the contest between good and evil.
Description
Carnival celebrations featuring performers dressed as devils are found in Puerto Rico and the rest Latin America. The presence of these characters during Carnival is understood by many as an ancient reference to the contest between good and evil. The devilish mask pictured here was made for the carnaval de Ponce. Its collector, Teodoro Vidal, played a key role in publicizing the Ponce carnival and documenting its traditions of mask making and public performance.
Description (Spanish)
Las celebraciones de carnaval durante las cuales se observan individuos disfrazados de diablos son comunes en Puerto Rico y el resto de América Latina. Muchos interpretan la presencia de estos personajes durante el carnaval como una antigua referencia a la contienda entre el bien y el mal. La máscara diabólica que aquí se representa fue confeccionada para el Carnaval de Ponce. Su coleccionista, Teodoro Vidal, desempeñó un papel fundamental en la promoción del Carnaval de Ponce mediante la documentación de sus artesanías de máscaras y dramatizaciones públicas.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1980
ID Number
1997.0097.0024
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0024
This homemade costume was made for the Ponce carnival. It has a cape attached at the neck made from the same black and red striped fabric (black and red are the colors of the city of Ponce).
Description
This homemade costume was made for the Ponce carnival. It has a cape attached at the neck made from the same black and red striped fabric (black and red are the colors of the city of Ponce). Carnival participants who wear costumes like this one, in addition to a mask, and other carnival accoutrements like matching shoes, canes, and gloves, are called vejigantes. Vejigantes are famous for playfully swatting at carnival-goers with a vejiga, a dried, inflated bladder. When a real animal bladder in not available, an empty water bottle is an acceptable substitute.
Description (Spanish)
Este disfraz casero se confeccionó para el carnaval de Ponce. Lleva una capa adherida al cuello, hecha del mismo género de franjas negras y rojas (el negro y el rojo son los colores de la ciudad de Ponce). A los participantes del carnaval que visten trajes como éste -además de la máscara y otros accesorios, como calzado haciendo juego, bastones y guantes- se los llaman vejigantes. Los vejigantes son famosos por deambular por las calles dando palmadas con sus vejigas (vejigas infladas y secas) a los concurrentes a la celebración. En caso de no contarse con vejigas reales de animales, se aceptan como sustitutos botellas de agua vacía.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1980
ID Number
1997.0097.0047
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0047
Chickens are a familiar decorative theme in household objects. This contemporary chicken-shaped botijo, or water jug is made of terra cotta with a removable stopper in the form of a chicken head.Las gallinas constituyen un tema de decoración popular en los objetos domésticos.
Description
Chickens are a familiar decorative theme in household objects. This contemporary chicken-shaped botijo, or water jug is made of terra cotta with a removable stopper in the form of a chicken head.
Description (Spanish)
Las gallinas constituyen un tema de decoración popular en los objetos domésticos. Este botijo contemporáneo con forma de gallina está hecho de terracota y tiene un tapón desmontable que representa la cabeza del animal.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1980
ID Number
1997.0097.0082
catalog number
1997.0097.0082
accession number
1997.0097

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