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Traditional Mallorcan object

Cadiram de la Seu (cathedral choir stalls) and church furniture

At a glance

The cadiram (choir stalls) of the Cathedral of Mallorca and, around it, the furniture of the town churches: benches, faristols, sacristy calixeres.

Objects and tools
Traditional Mallorcan object
Words
cadiram / cadirat, calaixera de sacristia, faristol, gelosia, hebdomadari
Events
2
Chairs and furniture in the choir of the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca.jpeg
Chairs and furniture in the choir of the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca.jpeg — Joaquim Morelló, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

What is

The cadiram (choir stalls) of the Cathedral of Mallorca and, around it, the furniture of the town churches: benches, faristols, sacristy calixeres.

How is

  • Cadiram de la Seu (restoration 2012-13, Kika Coll and Pere Terrasa):
  • walnut seats (Juglans regia);
  • backrests, gelosia and roure crowning;
  • pi platform;
  • cupboards behind the llenyam vermell (Pinus halepensis) pi seats;
  • Renaissance ceilings by Joan de Sales (16th century); purchases of wood from Naples.
  • Gothic stalls from the 15th century attributed to Macià Bonafè (to be verified).
  • Calaixera de sacristia: furniture with many drawers for ornaments (DCVB, Mall.).
  • Parishes: Gothic cadirat and Carles IV marquetry furniture in Consolació (Sant Joan); Carles IV benches from 1800 and baroque in Sant Miquel de Llucmajor; two Rococo benches, 17th century calaixera and baroque faristol in Algaida (AEM 2022).
  • Confessionari, banc d'església, cadira de cor de pueblo: without specific Mallorcan source (to verify).

How is fa

  • Carvers and fusters; in the 16th century, foreign and local teachers.
  • Isern Workshop: “hebdomadary chair” of the Cartoixa of Valldemossa, c. 1802-05; faristol and two Carles IV chests of drawers in the sacristy (Pou, 2016).

Com s'usa

  • Choir: prayer of the hours for the canons.
  • Sacristy: vestments in the calaixera.
  • Faristol: music book stand.

Vocabulary

  • cadiram / cadirat: choir stalls.
  • faristol: large lectern.
  • calaixera de sacristia: drawer for ornaments.
  • gelosia: lattice.
  • hebdomadari: canon on weekly duty.

History

  • 15th century: Gothic ashlar masonry (to verify author).
  • 16th century: Renaissance ceilings by Joan de Sales.
  • Since 1904: Gaudí moved the choir from the center of the nave to the Capella Major; seats are lost.

-c . 1802-1805: Isern furniture for the Cartoixa of Valldemossa.

  • 2012-2013: restoration of the cadiram (grupcpar UIB).

On veure'n

  • Mallorca Cathedral (Palma): cadiram.
  • Cartoixa de Valldemossa: sacristy.
  • Parishes of Sant Joan (Consolació), Llucmajor, Algaida. Diocesà Museum (to verify pieces).

Why is it design

  • Seating system: the choir organizes hierarchy and voice.
  • Mixture of woods with function: walnut where it is touched, oak where it is carved high, pine where it cannot be seen.
  • Furniture that Gaudí moved: the chairs as a piece of an architectural project.

For the project

Frequently asked questions

What is Cadiram de la Seu (cathedral choir stalls) and church furniture?

The cadiram (choir stalls) of the Cathedral of Mallorca and, around it, the furniture of the town churches: benches, faristols, sacristy calixeres.

What are the traditional words for Cadiram de la Seu (cathedral choir stalls) and church furniture?

Some words: cadiram / cadirat, calaixera de sacristia, faristol, gelosia, hebdomadari.

Sources

Working text from the Disseny Indígena knowledge base, machine-translated from Spanish.

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