Vintage Milagro depicting a Leg, c. 1940, Mexico

Milagro depicting a Leg, c. 1940
Mexican Religious Art
hand hammered tin
9.5" high x 3" wide

Provenance: 
Private Collection, Rose and Cecil Quintana, Portland, OR
Private Collection, James Caswell (1948-2015), Santa Monica, CA

Rose and Cecil Quintana have collected Latin American, Mexican and European religious art for over 30 years. They traveled far and wide to procure unique objects to add to their collection including retablos, ex-votos, santos, and other religious ephemera. This vintage collection of Milagros came from renowned Santa Monica historian, author, and art dealer James Caswell (1948 - 2015) who owned Historia Antiques in Santa Monica, CA and co-wrote Saints and Sinners: Mexican Devotional Art.

Milagros (tiny miracles) are religious charms that have been used in Mexico and other areas of Latin America for hundreds of years to petition saints for healing, help and protection. Milagros are made in many different symbolic forms, from eyes, legs and arms to angels and animals. These religious charms are pinned to altars and statues of saints, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus in churches throughout Latin America as prayer reminders or to thank the saint for prayers answered