West Coast Peddler

Cover Story Published February 1997

by Donna McMenamin

Mexico and popular art—the names go hand in hand. One can not visit Mexico without practically stumbling over her folk arts. This was especially the case in the heyday of popular arts—the 1920s-30s. Americans invaded Mexico back then and did what we do best—shop! Spending money was easy, the hard part was deciding what to buy, because the variety was endless, the quality superb , and the price was right. Now, seventy-five years later, many antique aficionados are turning their attention to the popular arts bought by our grandmothers. The only difference is that we are paying more than a few pesos!

Auction houses from New York to California are offering early twentieth century Mexican folk art in their Latin American, Native American and Spanish Colonial auctions. At Sotheby’s (New York) Latin American Auction (November 1993), a 1930’s talavera vase by Uriarte sold for over $3,000.00 and a fantasía pitcher from Tonalá sold for over $8,000.00. In their May 1994 auction, talavera sold again and lacquered chests found new buyers as well. Additionally, Christie’s (New York) reports selling a set of fourteen lottery drawings for over $30,000.00. On the west coast, Butterfields (San Francisco, July 1995) Native American/Spanish Colonial auction hammered down four figure prices for Tonalá burnished ware and talavera from Puebla. Contnue Page Two