America's entry into the space race with the Soviet Union came with the 1958 creation of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the introduction of Project Mercury in 1959. NASA chose to be the first astronauts: Alan Shepard, Gus...
Papier-mâché; Mexico; Art -- Mexico; All Souls' Day; Folk Art -- Mexico; Skull; Mexico -- social life and customs
Artist Pedro Linares revolutionized the art of papíer mâche in Mexico with his mythical monster-like creatures, called alebrijes. Pedro's three sons, Enrique, Felipe and Miguel, and his grandson, Ricardo, have followed in his footsteps. Their...
Bagpipes are ancient instruments for which little is known about their age and origins. Different types and styles of pipes were played in many regions of the world in ancient times, but they have come to be most closely associated with Scotland....
Bobble heads were popular in the early 1960s, and they made a comeback in 2000 in the form of sports stars. Bobble heads frequently were placed in the rear windows of cars where those driving behind could watch them bobble. This rare set of Beatle...
Toys; Space toys; Space travel; Space flight; Space vehicles; 1960s
Capitalizing on nationwide interest in the space program, Mattel introduced Major Matt Mason in 1967. Mattel based early vehicles and suits on NASA prototypes, allowing children to dream of stepping on the moon. In fact, a visit to the moon with...
Indians of North America; Pueblo Indians; Pueblo Indians -- Social life and customs; Clay figurines -- Southwest, New; Storytellers in art; Pueblo pottery
Clay figures have been present in the Pueblo culture since 400 A.D. Female figures, animals, birds and more recently the storyteller figure have been part of their tradition. The “singing mother” with several children sitting on her lap was...
Debuting in the fall of 1978, the science fiction series Battlestar Gallactica pitted good against evil on ABC. Following the popularity of Star Wars in movie theaters, the show featured a colony of humans racing toward Earth while avoiding the...
Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911; Sullivan, Arthur Seymour, Sir, 1842-1900; Opera; Nineteenth Century; Music; Musical theater; Theaters; Savoy Theatre
Englishmen Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan joined their talents of librettist (writer of operas) and composer to create fourteen operettas between 1871 and 1896, paving the way for modern musical theater. Their...
Inukshuks -- Canada; Indians of North America; Inuit; Cairns
Figures like this one, but much larger, can be seen in remote areas of Canada. There, the landscape is barren, without many landmarks to help people find their way. Years ago, people built their own landmarks out of stones, carefully chosen and...
Flea circuses possibly originated in England during the 16th century. However, one of the most famous flea performances occurred during the 1830s in London created by a man named L. Bertolotto. The circus featured fleas’ playing music in an...
Have you ever seen a horse with wings? While the famed image of the imaginary creature, Pegasus, evolved from Greek mythology, it appears in the folklore of many cultures around the world. This Oaxacan image of Pegasus (or Pegaso) is very different...
Greece -- Civilization -- To 146 B.C.; Mythology, Greek; Pottery; Art -- Greece
In ancient Greece pottery making was a highly skilled art form. Each piece was carefully and individually hand-crafted and painted. The style of the vase would determine its specific use. Amphoras were used to carry and store wine or oil and...
Toys; Knights and knighthood; Civilization, Medieval
Knights were one of three fighting men during the middle ages, the other two being foot soldiers and archers. Knights were considered the wealthiest because they had to buy their armor, weapons, and horse. A man could become a knight if he was a...
Mali; Dogon (African people); Dogon (African people) -- Social life and customs; Dogon (African people) -- Religion and mythology; Dogon (African people) -- Rites and ceremonies; Dance; Sculpture
Like many cultures, the cliff-dwelling Dogon peoples of rural Mali in West Africa have special beliefs and practices related to death. It is believed that after a person dies, even if his body is removed, his spirit remains in his home. The spirit...
Made from wood, these animals represent a long-standing craft tradition. Woodworking exists in many forms, from nutcrackers, to Christmas candle pyramids, to smoking figures, to fairy tale figurines. Small wooden figures are created to represent...
Russia; Russia -- Social life and customs; Cookery, Russian; Implements, utensils, etc.
Many Russian folk artists create figures like this one for souvenirs and craft shows. Women were traditionally the homemakers, cooking the meals, sewing the clothes, and raising the children. Many artists sell their art to companies that deal in...
Mary Todd Lincoln was often ridiculed by her contemporaries for spending money and her forceful personality. She was a well educated woman who terribly missed her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, and sons Willie and Tad. This doll was made about...
Puppets; Marionettes; Donald Duck (Cartoon character)
Mr. Bob Pelham began Pelham Puppets in the late 1940s. Until the end of the 20th century, these puppets were popular in England and all over the world. Pelham created all types of puppets including marionettes, hand puppets, and ventriloquist...
Toys; Space toys; Space ships--Models; Star Wars figures; Star wars (Motion picture); Solo, Han (Fictitious character)
Never tell me the odds! could well be Han Solo’s motto. Not the fresh faced hero of George Lucas’ film, Lucas considered Han Solo "a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good." From...
Mirrors; China; China -- Social life and customs; China -- History -- Ming dynasty, 1368-1644
Over the past 3,000 years, mirrors have become more than just a grooming aid in the Chinese culture. Mirrors, through the years, were also used as tokens of love, political gifts, and burial items for the afterlife. They were usually owned by the...
