Religious Collectable Items

Of the many different types of religious collectibles available, perhaps one of the more popular are the small antique religious paintings known as “retablos”. Traditionally Catholic folk art from Mexico, retablos are handpainted portraits of saints, angels, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus, often executed on tin. The flat tin sheet is usually decorated around the edges with punches in patterns such as leaves, vines, stars, crosses or other geometric shapes, and the edges are then bent to form a frame. Sometimes a horizontal section of tin is left at the bottom of the frame to support a votive candle. The image is painted with oil paint or paint from natural pigments. The background is often a subdued turquoise or blue, while the subjects are painted in brighter colors.

Each retablo painter had a unique style, but some conventions remained widespread. Popular subjects included the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and Archangel Michael. The Virgin is often pictured in a dark blue gown and veil, as she is in Orthodox iconography. If the complexion of the Virgin is dark, that is probably a representation of the Virgin of Guadalupe. If there is a knife pointed at her heart, that is the Virgin María Dolores, Virgin of Sorrows. The images of Christ are also readily identifiable, but one of the more unusual and enchanting is that of a young boy in the Cavalier dress of the 17th century, complete with plumed bonnet. Archangel Michael can be readily identified by his coat of armor and tunic. Retablos may also depict miraculous events, or illustrate stories from the Gospel. Sometimes they were commissioned in thanks for surviving a dangerous event, such as an epidemic or a flood.

Retablos usually were hung in the homes of the devout. Today, many people purchase retablos for their artistic and decorative qualities, as well as collectible investments. Collecting retablos is not cheap, but neither is it prohibitively expensive. Even authentic antique retablos rarely cost more than $600 each, and many can be had for under $200 at antique malls in the Southwest United States. As with any antique, reproductions abound, but since reproduction retablos also are handpainted folk art, sometimes they are just as charming and collectible as originals. Hung together in groups of three or more, retablos form a beautiful and colorful focal point for any wall, and are especially effective in a Southwest-themed interior. Retablos are meaningful, historically interesting collectibles that can be enjoyed every day, beautifying their surroundings and preserving for future generations past folk expressions of religious devotion.