New Mexican WPA Armoire, 1930's/40's
New Mexico WPA Armoire from the 1930's/40's. The Spanish called them Ropero meaning- holds clothes. Hand carved on front and both sides with wonderful star motifs and hand chipped designs. Has been modified with a shelf that can be taken out. The space was designed to hang clothes a rod, and drawer on bottom for storage. Today you can use it for storage for just about anything! It looks beautiful in a room all by itself.
WPA Stands for:
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was an ambitious employment and infrastructure program created by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935, during the bleakest days of the Great Depression. Over its eight years of existence, the WPA put roughly 8.5 million Americans to work building schools, hospitals, roads and other public works. Perhaps best known for its public works projects, the WPA also sponsored projects in the arts—the agency employed tens of thousands of actors, musicians, writers, carpenters and other artists.
This New Mexican Armoire (Ropero) was made through this project by carpenters (carpenteros) for public buildings.
Measurements: 39" wide, 24 1/2" deep, and 63" tall.