Art in Mallorca: Craftwork in Majorca
also see Mallorca in Spain: An Introduction to Majorca, Spain

Arts & Crafts in Mallorca

Mallorca is rich in popular handicrafts and has turned traditional pieces of the island's culture into souvenirs to sell to visitors. A good example are the popular "siurells"; ancestral earthenware figures painted in bright colours that double as a whistle. They come in all shapes and sizes (the most common design is a man on horseback) and are painted white with flashes of red and green. They are cheap, children love them, and the artist Joan Miro was much influenced by their brightness and simplicty. Also part of the local handicrafts are ceramics, earthenware, wrought iron, costume jewellery, and artistic glassware. 

A ceramics fair (Fira del Fang) is held each March in the town of Marratxi and all of Mallorca's leading potters are represented. Prices here are much better than in the tourist shops. Baleart is a Christmas craft fair held in Palma each December, with stalls selling everything from pottery and hand-made shoes to Mallorcan wines and sobrasada sausages.

Pearls from Mallorca

The town of Manacor has been producing artificial pearls for around 100 years. The locals found that they could almost replicate a natural pearl using fish scales. The pearls are made by creating a crystal nucleus which is then bathed in a solution made from natural marine products and fish scales. As a layer of the solution wraps around the crystal, it is dried with a heated rotating wheel beofre another layer is added. The process is repeated until the pearl of the desired size, shape and weight is produced. The thickness of the layers relates to the quality of the finished pearl.

The pearls are subjected to many quality control checks throughout the manufacturing process, which ensures any defective pearls are eliminated. Artificial pearls tend to be more resistant to damage caused by perspiration, perfume and make-up.

There are several pearl factories that you can visit to watch the manufacturing process, and each comes with large showrooms to display their products. The main companies are Orquidea, Marjorica, Madreperla, Ondina and Crisali. The factories can be found on the main road from Montuiri to Manacor, around 30km east from Palma.

Glassware from Mallorca

Glass blowing has been a part of Mallorca's history since the Phoenicians visited the Balearic Islands back in the 2nd century BC. The tradition continued with new techniques being introduced by the Romans and the Moors. Commercial factories were set up during the 18th century, with the Gordiola factory being established in 1719.

The three major players in glass making on Majorca are Gordiola (nr Algaida), La Fiore (Palma-Valledemossa) and Menestralia (Campanet). Each one has a factory that you can visit to watch the glass blowers in action, alongside their showrooms of brightly coloured products. Each piece is hand finished, ensuring the quality of the final products. The style tends towards the colourful and the sturdy, with plates, vases, bowls, light fittings and ornaments - something for everyone!

You can find Mallorcan glassware on sale in Palma as well as the factories, and in some of the larger markets.

Leather goods from Mallorca

Leather goods have been designed and manufactured on Mallorca for many decades. Inca is the home to world-famous shoe brand Camper, whose factories were established in 1877. And indeed, Inca is regarded as the home of leather manufacturers on Mallorca, and products such as jackets, bags and wallets can all be bought from showrooms around the town. The Inca market, held every Thursday is an ideal opportunity to peruse the selection of leather items. If you prefer not to haggle, go directly to the factory showrooms found on the main road just outside the town centre.

Pottery & Ceramics from Mallorca

Pottery has been a part of Mallorca's civilizations since the Neolithic age, and Roman and Moorish influences ensured the advancement of techniques. The Hispanic-Moorish pottery style was exported throughout Europe, such was its success. Palma became a major area for pottery in the 15th century, with the area of Sa Gerreria housing many pottery workshops. (and this area still contains artisan studios where you can watch the tradesmen at work).

Nowadays, the most important pottery areas are the towns of Pòrtol and sa Cabaneta of Marratxí, where there are large deposits of red clay that can be used in the workshops. The Museu des Fang (pottery museum) is located in sa Cabaneta and there are many potteries in the area that you can visit (the Ruta del Fang). There is a pottery fair every March in Marratxi which is hugely popular and showcases a wide selection of pots, plates, tiles and jugs at reasonable prices.

The traditional ceramic piece is the siurell - popular with children and visitors, it is a handmade whistle in the shape of a figure, generally whitewashed and decorated with red and green stripes. Other products include household and garden items, such as flower pots, window boxes, candelabras, coffee sets and pipes. 'Gerretes' are clay jars that are decorated with clay braids and are typical of pottery from Manacor and Felantix. 

You can find pottery and ceramic shops in many towns and villages, as well as the markets that are held all over Majorca. Try Placa Major in Palma for a good selection or take a trip to Portol and follow the 'Ruta del Fang'.