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Traditional Mallorcan object

Estora (palm mat)

At a glance

Mat. Woven or sewn piece of palm llata, espart, jonc or bova to cover floors, walls or the railing of the car (DCVB). In the Mallorcan house, winter…

Objects and tools
Traditional Mallorcan object
Words
bova, estora, estora de paret, estoreta / estorí, «No sies estora!»
Events
2
palma carpet
palma carpet — Artesanía La Palma / Son Poca Palla, © Son Poca Palla — uso con permiso/cita, Son Poca Palla (web oficial, sonpocapalla.es)

What is

Mat. Woven or sewn piece of palm llata, espart, jonc or bova to cover floors, walls or the railing of the car (DCVB). In the Mallorcan house, winter insulation on the rajola or earth floor.

How is

  • Material: palm llata (Llevant), espart pleita, bova (enea) or jonc.
  • Shape: rectangular or round; palm, strips of llata sewn next to each other or in a spiral.
  • Sizes: from the footboard to the one that covers a room. Wall blind for walls (doc. 1414). Unverified measurements.
  • Estormies and estorins appear in Artà's fine palm work (BOIB 101/2026).

How is fa

  • Palma: llata is braided and the ribbons are sewn with a needle and brin ( palm work ).
  • Espart: sewn lawsuit ( espart i cistellia ).
  • Bova: dried and twisted cattail leaf, the same knowledge as the boga chair ( cadiraires i boga ).

Com s'usa

It extends in autumn and is removed in summer (to verify as a general custom). It is shaken, swept and re-stitched. Under the table, at the foot of the bed, in front of the fire.

Vocabulary

  • estora: floor or wall mat.
  • estoreta / estorí: small mat.
  • estora de paret: the one that covers the wall.
  • bova: cattail (Typha), Majorcan name.
  • «No sies estora!»: Mallorcan reprimand: “don't be a fool, don't do mischief!” (DCVB).

History

  • 1249: "quintal of blinds" in the Leuda de Cotlliure (DCVB).
  • 13th century: Llull cites "blinds" among the luxuries of the house (DCVB).
  • 1652: "a bova estora" in a document from Sóller (DCVB).
  • 20th century: industrial carpet and rug replaced it; survives as beach mat and decoration.

On veure'n

Why is it design

  • Thermal comfort without energy: layer of air and fiber between the foot and the stone.
  • Modular: equal tire strips, lengthened by adding strips.
  • Seasonal and repairable: it is saved, it is resewn, it will be composted at the end.

For the project

  • Piece: llata blind as an acoustic panel or rug with a contemporary design (links to the palm work proposal).
  • Question: What local green surface could replace carpet in hotels on the island today?

Frequently asked questions

What is Estora (palm mat)?

Mat. Woven or sewn piece of palm llata, espart, jonc or bova to cover floors, walls or the railing of the car (DCVB). In the Mallorcan house, winter…

What are the traditional words for Estora (palm mat)?

Some words: bova, estora, estora de paret, estoreta / estorí, «No sies estora!».

Sources

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

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