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October 28 - November 27, 2002
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Retablos and Ex-Votos:
A Window into the Soul of Mexico
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Milagros are small metal objects made of copper, tin, pewter silver or,
occasionally, gold. They are images of human bodies and body parts, farm
animals or crops, as well as objects of everyday use. Their use illustrates
the object an individual will pray for to the saint of particular devotion.
After this prayer request is made a milagro relating to what was prayed
for is hung on display either on the robes or dress of the saint or on
boards placed for that purpose in the church.
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"Milagros" and Ex-Votos may be thought to relate to each other
in a before-and-after relationship.
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Nichos are wood or metal box-shaped reliquaries with open fronts. Either
self-standing or wall hung, they are meant principally to serve as personal
devotional altars for home and workplace use. They incorporate small
religious printed images, statuettes, medals, medallions, photos, and
other objects of personal significance. These can be fairly simple or
quite ornate depending on the taste or pocketbook of the owner.
Another tradition of reliquaries dates back to Byzantine times, and
these are meant to be worn on the person as jewelry. Often richly made
out of precious metals and jewels they may carry inside holy medals
or even relics of saints and religious figures, as well as images or
locks of hair of loved ones.
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This page http://infodome.sdsu.edu/about/depts/spcollections/exhibits/1102/retablos3.shtml is maintained by Special Collections c/o Cristina Favretto.
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File saved 11/23/04 10:17 PST
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