I found these beauties sorting through yet another still-packed box in the garage. I was given these Mexican paper dolls when I was quite young and have fond memories of spending hours studying their regional costumes. One folded the arms behind the back, creating a cone shaped figure and then slid the ends of the shawls into a slot in the front of the dress (see last picture). I always played with them unfolded however, because one could see more of the clothes and I loved the details of their dress.
I have scanned all fifteen of them and created a gallery for them, which you can find in the right sidebar. Perhaps this year I will finally find a way to frame them altogether.
How beautiful!
Midori, I have a great love for paper ephemera, and I’ve compulsively collected toy theatres for many years, both contemporary and antique. (I had a stack of early Pollocks sheets as a child, but they were lost long ago, and I’ve been making good the deficit as an adult. A shameful secret, this grown man craving toy theatres!) But like your Mexican dolls in the flat, I find that they’re invariably more appealing when left as intact sheets and books, because they’re always better in the imagination BEFORE they’re constructed. Your dolls look so much more appealing as flat shapes, and you’re right, the patterns show a lot better that way. Somehow richer and stranger as sheets, than when made up into dolls.
Clive: I love the flatten dolls — in a curious way they are more dynamic — those draped arms held up high make them look like they all have wings. But I like them as much as a sampler of various embroidery patterns. Seeing them all together just makes my fingers itchy for a needle and floss!
I LOVE these! So cool! I especially like the second from the right. Her eyes are taking her somewhere. (Hopefully this year we’ll get to see you in real life personage.)
Hello, I just stumbled upon your blog by accident. I was reading your Household Saints about St. Joseph. When my husband and I were getting ready to buy our house, I bought a small St. Joseph statue and put him upside down in the back yard. We were turned down by the owners (which was a bank) I still prayed because this house was perfect for our family. When we gave up, we received a call that they will except our offer. I was so excited!! But, we DID forget where we buried St. Joseph.
I love these paper dolls! Could I print them out? I would love to make these with my daughters class. I am glad that I found your blog and I am adding it to my list of favorite blogs.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn: I suspect there would be no harm in printing the images for use with your daughter’s class — it would constitute a form of fair use because it was being used for education and not for profit. I am glad you like them. And congratulations on getting your house!
Hi, i’m studing industrial design here in México and i’m developing a fashion collection based in mexican typical clothing.
Your images have been really helpful.
Thank you for sharing them.
Congratulations!!
A.-
You’re very welcome Antonia. And good luck with your work — sounds fascinating.
These dolls are beautiful. I could not help writing a post about them.
I followed your advice, I printed one and shaped it. It’s really nice.
Thank you.
Im mexican and I never seean paper dolls like these. Do you know where to buy them? I would love to have something like this.
I am a Spanish teacher and we are working on a huge project for “cinco de mayo”, is there any place to buy these dolls?
Hi Norma,
Sadly, these are from the 1950’s and were purchased in Mexico. I have never seen anything like it since.
I love your site. I am putting together a notebook for my grandchildren to enjoy all the cultures and your contribution is much appreciated!!!! I had so many paperdolls as a little girl – but none of them were from a foreign country.. Thank you!!!! Karen from Virginia
Your very welcome Karen!
elles sont magnifiques !… vraiment une des plus belles collections que j’aie vu, et, surtout, je n’en ai vu aucune aussi originale : j’ai créé un lien sur Pinterest, mais j’ai été obligée de les poster toutes, ne pouvant en choisir juste une ou deux !… merci de nous avoir fait découvrir ces petites merveilles… (elles sont ici : http://pinterest.com/lemondedis/paper-dolls-freebies/)
I love these dolls but cannot work out how you fold them to make them 3D like in your last picture! Perhaps it is because the cut lines are not clear. Please can you explain in pictures or more text how to do it! Many thanks, Vicky
Hi Vicky — There is a small slit in the front of the dress, just about where the waist it. And there are also small slits at the base of the arms where they are connect to the dress as well as around the head. And the two arms are also cut — so that when you roll the skirt, you can separate the arms and wrap them from back to front — slipping the long tab of the arms into the slit in the front of the waist. Hope that helps!