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At 54, Antônio Elias da Silva says he owes his art to Master Pedro Rosa, who is also from Carpina. “Each doll maker must have a master. I had him. He left me trunks full of dolls which are now at the Puppet Museum in Olinda.”
Master Saúba, as he is known, was about 12 years old when he started learning the art of doll making. “I made dolls inspired by the best masters and to this day I make pieces inspired by what I see around me.” One of the most famous is the couple riding a bicycle which move their heads as they pedal. “One day at the bus station in Recife I saw a countryman riding a bike with a woman on the back. He was very scared. It inspired me to make this doll – Zé Countryman goes to the beach. It became famous.”
In the village of Florestinha (PE) where he now lives, Master Saúba doesn’t talk much about his journeys. He is considered the greatest living sculptor of dolls and puppets, has been to São Paulo, but he belongs to Pernambuco, Carpina to be exact. “That’s the way it is. I’m going to stay here, working under this jackfruit tree.” |
