DepartmentHispano

Tin Nicho with holy card

NameTin Nicho

Artist or maker Mora Octagonal Workshop

CultureNew Mexican

Date1890 - 1900

Place madeNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumTin, glass, paper, solder, paint

Dimensions12 × 13 3/8 × 3 3/8 in. (30.5 × 34 × 8.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Steve and Dottie Diamant, A.2005.49.1

Object numberA.2005.49.1

Collections

Folk Art of New Mexico

DescriptionSmall tin nicho with round tin pieces with scalloped edges in each corner one embossed with lines and dots. The four side panels have similar embossed dots and lines, and scalloped edges. The shape of the nicho is half of a hexagon with three glass panels. A small black and white print of Jesus, The Good Shepherd, titled in French is set in a smaller rectangular tin frame inside the nicho. On each side of this smaller frame is a rounded column with diagonal scoring. There is evidence of some red paint in the center of each circular piece and a stripe of green across the top, as well as bits of green on the robes of the circles. There is also some white paint on the edges and back which may be from painting the was that the piece was hanging on.

Attributable to Higinio Gonzales based on the form and construction of the nicho, the red and green paint, and the embossing. See pages 42, 45, 115, 132, 136, and especially 150 of Dixon's "The Artistic Odyssey of Higinio V. Gonzales." As of August 2026, Maurice Dixon says all tinwork previously attributed as "Mora Octagonal" is attributable to HVG. - Carla Gilfillan