Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History - About the Collection
In 1992, curator Marvette Pérez contacted Puerto Rican collector Teodoro Vidal Santoni after learning that he was interested in donating his extensive collection of Puerto Rican material culture. In 1997, after several visits and conversations over the course of five years, Mr. Vidal agreed to donate his entire collection to the National Museum of American History. This became one of the largest gifts by an individual to the Museum. One of the most important collections of Puerto Rican material culture in the world, it consists of more than 3,200 objects which date from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
"Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History - About the Collection" showing 2 items.
Los Tres Reyes Magos
- Description
- On the Catholic calendar, the Three Kings are celebrated on the 6th of January. On this date Puerto Rican children traditionally expected their Christmas gifts, not from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. In Puerto Rico, the Three Kings, (in Spanish called Reyes Magos) are depicted as riding horses, not camels. According to the Bible, these kings are said to come from the east, although popular tradition identifies one of the kings as Melchor and depicts him as African in origin. The figure of Melchor is one of the first representations of a black person in Puerto Rican art. This set of Three Kings is from the town of Morovis, probably crafted around 1990 by a member of the Rivera family.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- late 19th century
- maker
- Rivera Group
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0506
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0506
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Three Kings
- Description
- Among the most famous characters in the stories about the birth of Jesus are the Three Kings, also called the Three Wise Men, or Magi. The Bible doesn't specify their names or nationalities, only that they were guided by the star of Bethlehem to bring three gifts to honor the birth of Christ, the "King of the Jews." On the Catholic calendar, the Three Kings are celebrated on the 6th of January. On this day, Puerto Rican children traditionally expected their Christmas gifts, not from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. This set is from the town of Morovis, probably crafted by a member of the Rivera family around 1900.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- late 19th or early 20th century
- maker
- Rivera Group
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0538
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0538
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center