Mexican Jewelry [antikvár]

FOREWORD At the end of a seminar conducted in Mexico by the Committee on Cultural Relations with Latin America—a seminar during which we had gone on trips, listened to lectures, and had contacts with authorities on many phases of life in Mexico—Hubert Herring said something like this, "Now that you have had a concentrated Introduction to Mexico, come back next year and enjoy life here." This advice we have proceeded to follow during a number of visits. Our interest in the beautiful creative crafts of the country grew and grew, specially our interest in the jewelry craft. From admiration for the modem work our enthusiasm came to include the jewelry worn by the country people which we saw as we traveled about. We discovered that there is a large and growing group of collectors mainly interested in regional design and craft work. And as more and more is coming to light concerning the far distant past of the Indians, our amazement at their skill and their expressive design has increased. Containing, as it does, all this inseparable material in one short volume, this book can be no more than an introduction to the subject. We have had to omit all discussion of the larger metal work which is so closely related to the jewelry, and which is being done by the same craftsmen; we have concentrated our comments on the personal ornaments and trinkets with which people instinctively adorn themselves in an attempt to be beautiful and/or attractive. Mexico is a complicated society of many worlds. The tourist world is one, and a Yankee is always a gringo, say what you may. Each little break in the wall which separates the tourist