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The Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection.

Carved Coconut Bank

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection.
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection.
Contact us at copyright@samuseum.org for rights and reproduction of this image. Photography by Ansen Seale.

Carved Coconut Bank

Place made:Veracruz, Mexico
General region:North and Central America
Date: 20th century
Dimensions:
l. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); diam. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, The Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection
Object number: 85.98.1246
Label Text
These carved coconut shells were made by prisoners jailed in the ancient fort of San Juan Ulua, Veracruz. Prisoners sold them to earn money to help pay for their keep and to send to their families. Often, they showed scenes from their crimes in pursuit of their redemption.

Estas cáscaras de coco tallado fueron hechas por prisioneros en una cárcel
dentro de la antigua fortaleza de San Juan de Ulúa, Veracruz. Los prisioneros vendían los cocos tallados para pagar su manutención y para enviar fondos a sus familias. Algunos ejemplos muestran escenas de los crímenes de los talladores en aras de su redención.

(LA, 2022)
On view
In Collection(s)


The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.