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 81 items.
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Slave shackles
- Description
- In the 15th century, decades before they sailed into the Caribbean, Spanish merchants, captains, and adventurers had already conquered and enslaved the people of the Canary Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. On the western coast of continental Africa, the Portuguese had been cultivating a slavery-based economic policy. This legacy of conquest and slavery shaped the colonization of Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean. Some of the first American encounters between Europeans, Indians, and Africans took place in Puerto Rico, and its early history of genocidal violence and physical exploitation was repeated throughout the Americas.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 19th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0370
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0370
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- 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
Marímbula
- Description
- The marímbula, (also marímbola), is an African-derived folk instrument found across the Caribbean. Large enough for its player to sit on, this instrument consists of a large, resonating box with metal strips that are plucked to provide a simple bass accompaniment. Its affordability, ease of construction, and portability (it can be strapped to its player like a marching drum), made it adaptable to many styles of folk music, from the roving aguinaldo of the Christmas season to a street-corner plena.
- Location
- Currently on loan
- Date made
- 20th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0512
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0512
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fuelle
- Description
- A bellows is a device for pumping air to get a fire started and to make it hotter. This handmade bellows was collected from the Joyería Bairan, a jeweler's shop on Calle Fortaleza in San Juan. This jewelry store produced many silver ex-votos, probably using this bellows in the process.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- mid 20th century
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0517
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0517
- 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
San José
- Description
- This figure of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ, was carved by Genaro Rivera in the town of Morovis at the turn of the 20th century. Several of the milagros attached to this saint are in the shape of legs.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1861-12-10-1941-12-14
- maker
- Rivera Aviles, Genaro
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0619
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0619
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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