"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 relief. "Why
had I not thought of these pearls before?"
Yet, even though, artificial pearls are the best-known gift to take back home,
the Balearics have much more genuine handicraft products. A great variety of
artisan goods have been made for centuries on the islands that consist of
Mallorca (also spelled Majorca), Menorca (Minorca), Ibiza and Formentera. Even
today in the world of mass production, their 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 there is a long rich tradition in the use of olive
wood. The wood of the olive tree is employed in the hand production of 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 to be 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 20th century, a craftsman in the town of Manacor on
the island of Mallorca 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.
In the same fashion as 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
some 700,000, the handicraft industry is being revived and is expanding to meet
the tourist needs. As happens in every resort area of the world, tourists are
always in search for unique souvenirs. In the Balearics their search is made
easy by the proliferation of the many handicrafts.
About Balearic Island Handicrafts:
1) 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,
2) 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.
3) 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.
4) 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 sausages.
5) OlivArt, a large factory shop in Manacor has the largest selection of
olive wood souvenirs on Mallorca.
6) 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.
TM
"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 relief. "Why
had I not thought of these pearls before?"
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.
There is also the carving of olive wood, which is widespread, especially on the
island of Mallorca where there is a long rich tradition in the use of olive
wood. The wood of the olive tree is employed in the hand production of 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.
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 to be 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.
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 20th century, a craftsman in the town of Manacor on
the island of Mallorca 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.