The Beauty of the Personal
Personal Treasures from the SCAS | NMHA Collections
While you will always see a Retablo or Bulto on display in our museum, our collection is filled with much more. Our collection consists of more than 4,000 items and as you can understand, it is quite difficult to get everything on display. For your pleasure, here is a look into some exceptionally beautiful items in our collection drawers.
Reflecting the exquisite artistry of silver, filigree, and other fine crafts, these smaller objects serve as a testament to the past, encompassing both treasured keepsakes and everyday personal belongings.
Chispas
Commonly referred to as chispas, strike-a-lights were indispensable daily tools utilized for igniting home fires or enjoying tobacco. This particular Tibetan iteration from ca.1820 is embellished with vibrant coral and turquoise, featuring red silk, leather, and a steel striking edge complemented by intricate gold engravings.
1990.81 (Strike-A-light)
Peinetas
Peinetas, or hair combs, were integral to traditional Spanish attire, primarily utilized to support the graceful drape of a lace mantilla. Crafted from materials such as tortoiseshell or fine silver, these ornamental pieces showcase a vast array of artistic designs.
2003.067 (Hair Comb)
Make it stand out
1999.016 (Hair Comb)
During the latter part of the 1800s, delicate filigree techniques emerged that evoked the appearance of golden lace, though tortoiseshell remained a highly coveted medium. Featuring everything from intricate pictorial engravings to shimmering mother-of-pearl embellishments, these sophisticated accessories serve as stunning tributes to enduring Spanish customs.
Petacas
Travelers traditionally safeguarded their daily necessities and cherished mementos within travel chests, known as petacas, or specialized boxes. Meticulously fashioned from leather, wood, or tin, these versatile containers were purposefully designed to protect delicate textiles, fine jewelry, and various domestic items during transit. From relief carvings to woven leather to straw applique designs, each vessel is a time capsule into another time, another culture, and the outstanding artistry of each craftsman.
1990.001 (Tin and Paper Box)
Hand Fan
Finally, the hand fan. Often fashioned from delicate lace, ivory, tortoiseshell, wood, or fine paper, these accessories did more than keep you cool in the heat. Through their surfaces, these fans served as canvases for mythological narratives, sacred biblical passages, and charming romantic vignettes. Beyond their aesthetic allure, they functioned as sophisticated expressive mediums.
This particular specimen features an ivory handle distinguished by pierced openwork and stamped motifs, bearing evidence of careful restoration. Shimmering gold-painted accents, partially retouched to maintain their luster, adorn the piece. Nestled between the fine layers, vibrant domestic vignettes have been meticulously integrated, showcasing the exceptional artistry inherent in such personal keepsakes.
2003.106 (Fan)
