 Coronel Navarro, nicknamed Chico, was born in a very poor family and for this reason did not go to school.Instead, when he was seven, he began working, learning lacquer and gold leaf techniques from his grandfather and parents to make items to sell at fairs in nearby towns such as Tlapa de Comonfort, Tepalzcingo, Tejalpa and Petalcingo.The artisan has exhibited his work in Mexico City, at venues such as the Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares and at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington DC.