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 28 items.
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Niño Jesús
- Description
- Jesus Christ is represented in a variety of forms in Catholic art and devotion, one of the most familiar being the scene of his crucifixion. Almost as frequently, Christ is shown as an infant, often being held by his mother, the Virgin Mary. This wooden figure of El Niño Jesús, the Christ Child, is from the late 19th century.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- Late 19th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0035
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0035
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The All-Powerful Hand
- Description
- The ancient symbol of a protective hand is common to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. This figure, the Mano Poderosa or All-Powerful Hand, from the late 1800s, is a specifically Catholic version of its Roman predecessor. The five small figures atop the fingers are: Baby Jesus on the thumb; St. Joseph on the index finger; the Virgin Mary on the middle finger; St. Joachim (Mary's father) on the fourth finger; and St. Anne (Mary's mother) on the pinkie.
- Date made
- late 19th century
- maker
- Caban Group
- Caban Group
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0225
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0225
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Trinchante y Hacha
- Description
- This hatchet and knife from the Hormigueros region were used in carving santos. The hatchet is 16 cm. long, and the handle is made of the native guayalote wood and has a hole pierced near the end. The knife has a 9 cm. wooden handle carved into a spiral shape.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 20th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0324
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0324
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Amuleto en Forma de Espada
- Description
- This 20th century protective amulet takes the form of a sword. Amulets like this are worn with the belief that they ward off evil, danger, or bad luck, and provide strength and reassurance to the wearer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 20th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0325
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0325
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
St. Raymond Nonnatus
- Description
- San Ramón Nonato is associated with secrets and silence. He is the patron saint of both victims of gossip and women in labor. Born in Catalonia in the early 13th century, his mother died in labor and he was surgically removed from her womb. He was an ardent and persecuted Christian missionary in North Africa. To stop him from converting others to Christianity, his lips were pierced with a hot iron and clamped shut with a lock.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- n.d.
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0403
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0403
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Our Lady of Solitude (?)
- Description
- This figure is probably the Virgen de la Soledad. The title of Our Lady of Solitude is attributed to her faith-filled vigil on Holy Saturday, as she awaited the resurrection of her son, Jesus Christ.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 20th century
- late 19th - 20th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0459
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0459
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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
Los Tres Reyes Magos
- 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
- early 20th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0511.001
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0511.001
- 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
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
- Description
- This wooden figure of La Virgen de la Candelaria was made by Genaro Rivera in the town of Morovis in the early 1900s. This saint is especially popular in Puerto Rican cultural traditions and folk religion. Many of the first settlers to Puerto Rico came originally from the Canary Islands, bringing with them their patron saint, the Virgen de la Candelaria, the Virgin of Candlemas.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1861-12-10-1941-12-14
- maker
- Rivera Aviles, Genaro
- Rivera Aviles, Genaro
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0544
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0544
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center