OTHER CRAFTSMEN AND WOMEN

Jewellery and costume jewellery are just two of the traditional crafts to have been kept up over the years

This short guide could not end without mention of other crafts in Majorca that are also prospering. This is the case of the master jewellers, capable of creating the typical cordoncillos, (gold chains), botonadas d'or (gold cufflink-like jewellery), panerets de filigrana and highly effective settings.

No less important are master joiners like Vicenç Ballester de Llucmajor, who specialises in corner cupboards and folding chairs like those that until not many years ago the faithful would take with them to church so that they could sit down. Miquel Barceló, also of Llucmajor specialises in typical gueiates, Majorcan walking sticks, made from wild olive wood.

Mention should also be made of artisan blacksmiths who work wrought iron such as Guillem Cerdà of Port de Pollença. A benchmark for craftwork in Majorca is Can Ordinas, at 128 Carrer de s'Avall, Llucmajor, where one can find any of the many different sorts of traditional Majorcan knives and blades. Master instrument makers form another sector that in recent years has grown constantly.

These craftsmen concentrate on making the traditional instruments used in Majorcan folk music: flabiols, (a type of one handed flute), xeremies (Majorcan bagpipes) and tamborins (tabors). Some of the best known are: Pep Rotger y Joan Sureda, in Palma: Joan Marroig y Tomeu Amengual, in Sóller: Biel Crespí in sa Pobla; Miquel Tugores in Sineu; Joan Morey and Rafael Bauçà in Sant Joan and John Lambourne in Valldemossa.