The Balearic Islands’ Handicrafts Live On
BY: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer
“It’s that time again! You know what I hate most in going away on a trip? It’s buying gifts to take back for daughters who have everything!” I remarked to a friend during our last day on Spain’s Balearic Islands. She smiled, “In the Balearics, it’s the easiest place in the world to buy gifts. Why not buy them artificial pearls, made right here on the island of Mallorca! They’re the best artificial pearls in the world.” I felt a sense of relief. “Why had I not thought of these pearls before?”
Yet, even though, artificial pearls are the most popular gift to take back home, the Balearics have much more genuine handicraft products. On the islands of Mallorca (also spelled Majorca), Menorca (Minorca), Ibiza and Formentera, a great variety of artisan goods have been made for centuries. Even today in the world of mass production, Balearic artisans continue to maintain a rich and flourishing tradition in local crafts.
Embroidery, special to Mallorca; carvings, souvenirs and furniture from olive wood; objects made from glass; fabrics with various print designs; all types of pottery creations; handmade shoes and other leather dress-ware; and, above all artificial pearls are products that a visitor can take back home as a reminder from these historic Mediterranean islands. In spite of the tourist boom that has blossomed throughout the Islands for more than half a century, the islanders have not rejected their ancient crafts – many skilled artisans still ply their trade.
Mallorca’s age-old embroidery is comprised of the point, chain stitch, connected stitch and the cross-stitch. It differs significantly from the embroidery found on the Spanish mainland in its innovative designs and a skilful use of materials. At one time, the craft almost died out but, today, it has recovered.
There is also the carving of olive wood, which is widespread, especially on the island of Mallorca where this long rich tradition remains. The wood of the olive tree is used in hand producing kitchen utensils, long lasting salad bowls and home decorations. For souvenirs: ashtrays, coasters, eggcups, earrings and much more make excellent presents and are much sought after by tourists.
Glassblowing, which originated in Syria and was brought to the Balearics by the Romans, is a handicraft process that visitors adore. They are able to watch master craftsmen, in places like Lafiore in Valldemossa in Mallorca, produce beautiful objects. Rarely are they not entranced to see glassblowers with only tongs and blowpipes – the only tools used – turn out exquisite artistic glass creations – some dream souvenirs.
As well, Mallorca is the home of most of the handmade fabrics in the Balearics. The main type, due to the longish print design, is known as ‘Roba de Llengües’ (tongue or patterned cloth). Having decorated Majorcan homes for years, this brightly attractive textile is today still made as in medieval times. Since they do not have a front or a backside – both sides have the same print design – the textile is much used to make such household items as curtains.
Pottery and ceramic-handmade products are found throughout the Balearics. Cups, jugs, plates, pots, saucepans, and other kitchen utensils made out of clay or ceramics on the Islands are some of the typical articles produced in workshops called ‘olleries’. However, the most well-known product in this handicraft are the Siurell – small hand-made figurines with a small whistle at the base painted in bright white and enhanced with green and red flashes. This old peasant toy made on Mallorca since Arab times is a preferred purchase for tourists who wish to buy one of the Balearics’ most typical handicrafts. Beloved by children, they come in all shapes and sizes and are very reasonably priced.
Another well-known handicraft in the Balearics is leather handmade goods. Even though much of the leather items are now produced in factories there are still a fair amount of artisan products like leather jackets and shoes. Prices are reasonable and, especially shoes are top quality. Leather goods on the Balearics have become internationally known and exporting them has been responsible for their high quality and the innovative designs.
Other handicrafts practised on the Islands are the making of numerous types of wrought iron items and palm leaves and raffia products as well as fine costume jewellery. However, the most important handicraft on the Islands, principally on the island of Mallorca, is the manufacture of artificial pearls. Manufactured almost exclusively in Manacor, they are made from natural marine products. Laboriously produced by a special process that somehow creates from pulverised fish scales and other ocean substances as well as dyes and hardeners pearls that are barely distinguishable from the genuine natural ones, they become a unique Balearic item. With a shine that never fades, no ordinary person can tell the difference.
Mallorca produces annually some 50 million of these almost authentic artificial pearls. At the beginning of the 20th century, a craftsman in the town of Manacor began to produce pearls of high quality – indistinguishable from natural pearls. To produce these artificial pearls he created a crystal nucleus of high density with a specific weight very similar to that of natural pearls. His product caught on like wildfire and is still going strong.
Mallorcan pearl factory Mallorcan pearls Mallorcan PearlsIn the same fashion that Manacor is noted for its pearls, other handicrafts are associated with main centres. The whole island of Mallorca is famous for the exceptionally high quality of its hand embroidery. The area of Inca and the surrounding villages on Mallorca are famous for producing some of the best shoes in the world and the pottery workshops are mainly located in the Marratxi municipality on the same island. Glassware and costume jewellery are the speciality of the city of Ciudadela in Menorca – an island that has a long-standing tradition of furniture manufacture.
With from 11 to 12 million annual tourists to the Balearics whose population is over 1 million – the handicraft industry is being revived and is expanding to meet tourist needs. As happens in every resort area of the world, tourists are always in search of unique souvenirs. In the Balearics their search is made easy by the proliferation of the many handicrafts.
About Balearic Island Handicrafts:
- Visitors should be aware that artificial pearls are usually priced based upon 3 distinct grades of quality, and one should always look out for those that carry the official Orquidéa shield. Travellers can visit some of the factories to watch the pearls being made. One should know that even if they are artificial, Balearic Islands’ pearls make an expensive souvenir.
- Every Wednesday evening at Mmercat de nit in Alaior, Menorca there is an evening market with handicraft stands including demonstrations of how items are produced.
- A Fira del Fang (Ceramics Fair) is held each March in Marratxi and all of Mallorca’s leading potters are represented. Prices here are much better than in the tourist shops.
- Baleart, a Christmas craft fair held annually in Palma each December features stalls selling everything from pottery and hand-made shoes to Mallorcan wines and sobrasada
- OlivArt, a large factory shop in Manacor has the largest selection of olive wood souvenirs on Mallorca.
- The Passeig per l’artesania (Handicraft Centre and the School for Handicrafts), offers craftsmen performing the art of glassblowing, the manufacturing of wood products as well as ceramics, paper, pearls and fabrics.
