In her renowned work “The Women of My Country,” Maria Lamas defined the carrejona as a “woman who specializes in carrying loads. Many go to the city and transport all kinds of items on their heads, also working as official porters at some railway stations.”
It was the task of women and children to carry furniture from the workshops to the train station, or even to the cities. The female carriers undertook the difficult and demanding task of transporting heavy furniture on their backs and heads, with the aid of adapted supports, carrying several pieces at a time over long distances.
The profession demanded physical endurance, a spirit of sacrifice, and knowledge of commercial routes, constituting today a significant memory of the human heritage associated with the traditional furniture industry and woodworking arts.
“That’s how we carried them. […] Tied with a rope, two, another two on top, and another two on top. Six. […] When there were more chairs, a cousin of mine would come to help, we would go together.” Maria Georgina Leal, Female Carrier
