The Mexican eight-real coin, known variously as a Spanish dollar, pillar dollar, or piece of eight, was the most widely used coin in the world by the time the United States was founded. The American dollar was based upon these coins, and they remained legal tender in the US until 1857. It is possible that the two vertical bars in the dollar sign are derived from the pillars seen on this coin – the Pillars of Hercules.
Beatrice Wood (1883-1998) was an acclaimed artist, most well known for her work as a ceramicist and her role in founding the Dada Movement. While working in the Los Angeles art scene during the 1930s, she was introduced to master printer Lynton Kistler, who persuaded her to take up printmaking and gifted her a set of materials to learn lithography. Her prints were simple and satirical; in her print "The Joy of Living," she uses an ironic title to capture how small hardships, such as a broken down car, are an unavoidable part of life. This lithograph was created in 1932 and was included in her first lithographic exhibit at the Stendahl Galleries.
The Mexican eight-real coin, known variously as a Spanish dollar, pillar dollar, or piece of eight, was the most widely used coin in the world by the time the United States was founded. The American dollar was based upon these coins, and they remained legal tender in the US until 1857. It is possible that the two vertical bars in the dollar sign are derived from the pillars seen on this coin – the Pillars of Hercules.
Edward Weston was influential in the modern photography movement beginning in the 1930s. He is well known for photographing the natural surroundings of his home on the California coast. Weston created striking works of art, some abstract, some more traditional images. A leader in American photography of the 20th century, Weston's prints were first exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1947. Afterwards, he remained interested in the national photography collection. At times, Weston recommended photographers to curators for collecting opportunities, and eventually donated a selection of his work and several cameras to the Photographic History Collection.
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This crate label is for El Tejon brand Mexican tomatoes. The tomatoes were grown and packed by the Seicho Company of Verdura, Sinaloa, Mexico in the beginning of the 20th century.
A molinillo is a whisk that was first produced by Spanish colonists in Mexico. They used the molinillo to stir and froth their chocolate drinks. Prior to Van Houten’s invention of the hydraulic press, chocolate contained a large amount of fat that was not soluble in water. A chocolate drink had to be continuously stirred in order to stay mixed. A larger molinillo, such as this, would have been used with a chocolate pot. These particular molinillos most likely date to the 20th century due to their decorative carvings and loose rings at the end.
Chocolate had been known and treasured by Native Americans in Central and South America for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Cacao beans were so highly prized by Mayans and Aztecs that they were used as currency in many areas of the Americas. When first taken back to Europe by the Spanish, the chocolate drink continued to be produced exclusively for the enjoyment of royalty or the extremely wealthy. As the cacao bean gradually made its presence known throughout Europe, it still remained trapped in this exclusive section of society well into the 19th century.
The chocolate trade to North America began more than 300 years ago, primarily centered in or near major port cities of the time, such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Newport, RI. Due to lower transportation costs, chocolate was often less expensive in the Americas than in Europe and therefore had a broader consumer base. The Industrial Revolution radically changed chocolate production and helped propel it into the hearts and stomachs of the working class. Instead of being a labor intensive product, it became entirely machine made reducing costs even further in the late 19th and early 20th century. During this time, chocolate went from being something a person drank to being something to eat, finally becoming a treat for the masses.
Henrietta Shore (1880-1963) was an early pioneer of the Modernism movement of art on the West Coast. She discovered lithography while traveling in Mexico, and took inspiration from the southern landscape and indigenous traditions. On returning to California in 1928, Shore began working in the Los Angeles lithography workshop of master printer Lynton Kistler making her one of the first women lithographers working in California. "Water Carrier" was one of the prints produced during her time there.
Beatrice Wood (1883-1998) was an acclaimed artist, best
known for her work with ceramics and her role in founding the Dada Movement. While working in the Los Angeles art scene during the 1930s, she was introduced to master printer Lynton Kistler, who persuaded her to take up printmaking and gifted her a set of lithographic plates. Her prints were simple and satirical, sometimes incorporating a subtle dark humor. Her lithograph “Holiday,” was printed in 1932.