Vintage Mexican Papier Mache Folk Art Figures Rifle Gun Woman Baby & Man W/load For Sale

Vintage Mexican Papier-Mâché Folk Art Figures – Man & Woman with Baby and Rifle – Pair

Offered is a wonderful pair of vintage, 1970’s /80’s, Mexican folk art figures, handcrafted from papier-mâché and individually hand-painted.

These two figures are full of character, with expressive faces, colorful traditional clothing, and remarkable attention to detail.

The Woman – 14” Tall

The woman is especially intriguing. Her rifle, combined with the baby on her back, brings to mind the soldaderas — women who accompanied and sometimes fought alongside revolutionary forces during the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920). Some carried children while traveling with the armies.

The taller figure depicts a Mexican woman dressed in a colorful green blouse with orange ruffled collar and a long, tiered orange and yellow skirt. A tan shawl is wrapped around her body, securing a small baby against her back.

Perhaps the most unusual feature is the long rifle she carries across the front of her body. The combination of a mother carrying her child while armed makes this a particularly intriguing representation of Mexican folk life and history.

Her long black hair extends nearly to the bottom of her skirt.

The Man – 13” Tall

Her companion is a mustached Mexican man wearing a large, broad-brimmed sombrero, red shirt, light-colored trousers, sandals, and a striped shoulder bag.

He carries an impressively detailed bundle of firewood strapped across his back with cord. His posture is slightly bent forward, as though bearing the weight of his heavy load.

He stands on a rectangular black base.

Craftsmanship

Both figures display the distinctive qualities of traditional Mexican papier-mâché folk art, including hand-formed features, layered paper clothing, painted details, and dimensional accessories.

The figures have wonderful sculptural character and are especially appealing when displayed together.

Measurements

* Woman: Approximately 14” tall

* Man: Approximately 13” tall

Condition

Vintage condition with visible age-related wear, including areas of paint loss, surface discoloration, and irregularities in the papier-mâché construction. These are delicate, handcrafted figures with the character and imperfections associated with vintage folk art.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.

A distinctive pair for collectors of Mexican folk art, vintage papier-mâché, traditional Mexican figurines, or Latin American cultural art.

The signature plus 1984 is in the bottom of the map. The foil label is on the bottom of the woman. The foil label is marked Martin Renteria. He passed away in 1923