Folk Treasures of Mexico: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection

In his foreword, former New York governor and vice president of the United States Nelson A. Rockefeller remembers his first trip to Mexico in 1933 and his subsequent, life-long fascination with the Mexican people and their popular art. Rockefeller’s collection of more than 3,000 pieces of Mexican folk art is widely considered to be the most exceptional in the U.S., and Folk Treasures of Mexico celebrates these icons–created from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries–with more than 150 photos of the pieces, many of which are quite rare. In the main text, Marion Oettinger, Jr., curator of Latin American Art at the San Antonio Museum of Art, describes the objects according to function: utilitarian, ceremonial, decorative, or for play. Among the many noteworthy objects are a wooden-carved centurion helmet mask from the eighteenth century depicting a Roman guard, which is one of the few remaining masks of this type in existence, and a nineteenth century ceramic pitcher from Oaxaca that combines many stylistic techniques. Other objects include a variety of children’s toys, clothing, and items for eating and drinking. Originally published in 1990, the book contains a preface by Rockefeller’s daughter, Ann Rockefeller Roberts, who was instrumental in finding permanent homes for her father’s stunning collection, which, can now be found in the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Mexican Museum in San Francisco. Including a glossary, bibliography, and chronology, Folk Treasures of Mexico is a must-read for anyone interested in Latin American art, culture, and history.