Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History - Introduction
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.
"Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History - Introduction" 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