Behind the Design
Artistry of Mexican Paper Mache
October 27, 2018
La Fuente Imports, in cooperation with Master Artisans of Mexico, are proud to present the newest addition to our Mexican Folk Art offerings. Within our online marketplace you will see a stunning, lively array of handcrafted Paper Mache figurines, the likes of which are ideal for decorating the walls of your home with a remarkable splash of South-of-the-Border sunshine.
Cartonería or Papier Mâché sculptures are a traditional handcraft in Mexico. The papier-mâché works are also called "carton piedra" (rock cardboard) for the rigidness of the final product. These sculptures today are generally made for certain yearly celebrations, especially for the Burning of Judas during Holy Week and various decorative items for Day of the Dead. However, they also include piñatas, mojigangas, masks, dolls and more made for various other occasions. There is also a significant market for collectors as well. Papier-mâché was introduced into Mexico during the colonial period, originally to make items for church. Since then, the craft has developed, especially in central Mexico. In the 20th century, the creation of works by Mexico City artisans Pedro Linares and Carmen Caballo Sevilla were recognized as works of art with patrons such as Diego Rivera.
As a young married couple, Luis and Rosa Jimenez had a vision. They wanted to create richly colored, vibrant and unique artwork of superior quality. Their dream came to fruition 3 years ago when they opened their retail shop in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
While Rosa tends their small retail shop on the main street of their Mexican village, Luis is busy creating new designs and overseeing production in their 5-person factory. Each piece of unique and original artwork is hand formed: no machines are used in the production. No two pieces are exactly alike, as they are all hand painted, then signed by the artisan who created them. You can't call your folk art collection complete until you claim one of these creations for your own!
Browse La Fuente Imports Paper Mache selections today!
Let's Get Social - Join La Fuente Imports for interior design inspiration on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Houzz.