Description of the Mexican Exhibit from the Book of the Fair Guidebook:
In Mexico’s division is fairly represented her industrial progress within recent years, now that the successive administrations of President Diaz have put an end to revolutions, or predatory raids in guise of revolution, which followed the acquisition of independence. Her section is enclosed by a glass partition, on one side of which are specimens of wood carving from old Spanish churches, most of them representing sixteenth century art. On the opposite side are several pieces of primitive artillery, such as were used in the days of Cortes, side by side with models of some of the last pieces of ordnance cast at the national foundry, and among other historic articles near by is one of the swords of Cortes. In a small picture gallery are portraits representing the military and civic leaders to whom the republic has accorded places of honor.
The display of manufactures consists mainly of pottery, bronze, onyx, artificial flowers, and textile wares, including, among others, cordage and hammocks fashioned of heniquen fibre, the sisal of modern commerce. Specimens of bronze work and cotton goods of native manufacture represent two of the new industries of the southern portion of the republic. The clay pottery and the artificial flowers are largely the handiwork of the Mexican Indian, who is a deft, though untrained modeller, and possesses in an eminent degree the faculty of imitation. So also with the groups of onyx, whether in slabs or fashioned into such articles as scarf and shawl-pins, watch-charms, paper-weights, and plaques for the decoration of walls, on the last of which are painted figures typical of Mexican life. Of embroideries, laces, and other delicate fabrics there is a collection which will not suffer by comparison with those of European make.