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Last updated 29/2/2024

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Papiroflexia by Elias Gutierrez Gil, 1951
 
'Papiroflexia' by Elias Gutierrez Gil was self-pubished in 1951. It is a book of paperfolding designs accompanied by text. Roughly translated from the Introduction, 'As the work was dry and monotonous ... we thought we would liven it up a bit with the introduction of pieces that would serve as suitable reading for children'.

A number of designs in the book are traditional, but most are the work of the author himself. The introduction acknowledges a debt to Miguel de Unamuno, roughly translated, (paperfolding is) 'an inconsequential thing, which, however, was one of the most characteristic hobbies of a figure of such rare originality as Miguel de Unamuno. The name he gave to this activity is the one that gives title to our volume, Cocotology or Papiroflexia.' The only other reference to Don Miguel in the work is the inclusion of one of his poems in the section explaining how to fold the Cocotte / Pajarita.

Many of the designs included in the work are made using cuts. Some are developed from the Bird Base folded from the square, but others are developed from versions of the same base folded from a rhombus or a four-pointed star. There are also two 3-part compound designs.

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Analysis

Molinillo de Papel - The Cut and Fold Windmill

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El Vaso - The Paper Cup

(The drawings are strangely distorted)

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La Silla y el Sofa - The Chair

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Primer Modelo de Barco - The Paper Boat

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Segundo Modelo de Barco - a longer version of the Paper Boat

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Bonete and Gorro Cuartelero - The Curate's Hat

(The latter being a simple variation of the first)

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Caperuza Corriente (Basic Hood) - The Newspaper Hat

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Mitra Corriente (Normal Mitre) -

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Mitra Turca (Turkish Mitre) -

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Montera de Torero (Bullfighter's Hat) -

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Bonete Cuadrado - Le Bonnet Carre

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Pajarita Corriente - The Cocotte / Pajarita

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Candil - The Boat with Sail

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El Globo - The Waterbomb

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El Fuelle - The Bellows

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Dos Modelos de Sombrillas -

(No drawings of the finished designs are given)

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El Avion (Cut) - The Dove

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La Pajarita Voladora - The Flapping Bird

(Made in a very unique way)

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El Pinguino

(Made from a bird base)

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El Elephante (Cut)

(Three-legged, made from a bird base)

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El Cerdo (Cut) (Pig)

(Three-legged, made from a bird base)

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El Rinoceronte (Cut)

(Three-legged, made from a bird base)

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El Asno (Cut) - The Donkey with Panniers

(Three-legged, made from a bird base)

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El Leon (Cut)

(Three-legged, made from a bird base)

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El Dromedario (Cut)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Gato (Cut)

(Made from a bird base)

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La Paloma (Dove)

(Made from a bird base)

Although no attribution is given, this design seems similar to, if not identical with, 'Pajara' by Miguel de Unamuno (see entry for 1932)

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El Gallo (Cut)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Buitre (Vulture)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Loro (Parrot)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Anade (Duck)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Canguro (Cut)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Aguila (Cut) (Eagle)

(Made from a bird base)

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El Calamarro (Cut) (Squid?)

(Made from a Frog Base)

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La Rana (Frog)

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El Caiman (Cut)

(made from a rhombus folded into a Bird Base)

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Foca (Cut) (Seal)

(made from a rhombus folded into a Bird Base)

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El Pavo Real (Cut) (Peacock)

(made from a rhombus folded into a Bird Base)

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El Caracol (Cut)

(made from a rhombus folded into a Bird Base)

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El Penitente (3-part design)

(4 if you count the staff)

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El Torero (3-part design)

(5 if you count the bandilleros)

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El Antilope (Cut)

(Made from a four-pointed star folded into a kind of Bird Base)

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La Jirafa (Cut)

(Made from a four-pointed star folded into a kind of Bird Base)

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La Ciguena (Stork)

(Made from a four-pointed star folded into a kind of Bird Base)

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La Garza (Heron)

(Made from a four-pointed star folded into a kind of Bird Base)

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El Galgo (Cut) (Greyhound)

(Made from a four-pointed star folded into a kind of Bird Base)

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