Who Is Who On Our Streets: Snakes And Donkeys And Owls, Oh My!

By Natalie Taylor

Javier Arriega Gómez has been at his post in the doorway for the past fifteen years, selling door stoppers he makes himself. He was born in the town of Hidalgo in Michoacán and began working as a carpenter, making all kinds of furniture, small articles for the home, and even pencils—a craft that has been taken over by machinery now.

He came to San Miguel de Allende in 1983 seeking carpentry jobs and creating artisanal decorative objects. For many years, he carried his wares through the streets of the city until the owner of a supermarket that existed where Cava Sautto is now allowed him to set up a stand in their doorway. When that store was defunct, he was permitted to place his goods in the doorway of the building on Canal 3, next to Starbucks.

This is where you will find him every day except Sunday, surrounded by snakes, owls, rabbits, little burros, and other creatures made of wool and stuffed with sand. They make wonderful door stoppers—topes de puertas, and draft blockers, which are appropriately called guardapolvos, dust blockers; very useful during the dry season. Of course, when the rains start, the guardapolvos have a new use, they keep water from seeping in through door and window frames. I suppose they ought to be called guarda-aguas then, but apparently no such word exists.

Javier is married and has two sons, 16 and 21 years old, and they help him with the business. They take shifts sitting with the goods, or making the guardapolvos. One son creates unique key rings with the little animals hanging from a chain. They buy large rolls of wool, cut them to the size and shape desired, and create their products. The long seams are done by a machine, but all the details are added by hand sewing. Some of the snakes are simply tubes, but others have elaborate faces and mouths.

He comes to his post at six in the morning to set everything up and stays through the day. Whether you want to keep your house free of dust or prevent water from coming through cracks during the rainy season, stop by and see the handmade products sold by Javier!