Greixonera — Traditional Mallorcan object

What is

The Mallorcan clay pot. In Mallorca greixonera is the name of the cassola de terra (DCVB, Mall.) and also the stew that is cooked inside, almost always in the oven. It is the emblematic piece of the Pòrtol olleries, made with the only refractory clay on the island.

How is

Low body, domed base and several handles; glazed inside (Coll Conesa 2020).
Shapes: the old ones, hemispherical or domed; flat for oven; elongated (rostidora, grasera); low cylindrical with a domed base (sa bomber).
Sizes: the large ones, up to 4-5 liters (sa gran, bomber, sa setze), with four handles; the medium and small ones, sa fourteen, sa quilo, mitja mà, treseta (Coll Conesa 2020).
The ollers of Pòrtol name them after the olles: greixonera de biel, de malaguenya, de mitja mà, de perol (DCVB). The greixonera perol has about 3 liters (DCVB, sv perol).
Variants: saïmera (with cutouts on the edge to pour the butter) and amb brec (with a spout to serve sauces).
Cordada: the large ones were sold wrapped in a wire mesh that keeps them whole even if they crack in the fire.

How is fa

1. Red siliceous-ferruginous clay from Ses Coves de Can Guidet (Pòrtol), the only one suitable for fire pieces (Coll Conesa 2020).

2. Crush, sieve and store the ground clay (summer work).

3. Turn (see torn-de-gerrer ), air dry.

4. Glaze the interior and bake in a wood oven.

5. The large ones, string them with wire.

Com s'usa

In the oven or on the fire: greixonera of peus de porc, fish (eel, tonyina, llampuga), arròs brut, frit, tumbet, sopes.
Before using it, it is usually cured (method to be verified with an oller).
Useful life with daily use: about two years, and a 30 cm one with a lid cost less than €20 (Mallorca Magazin, 2007).
It was repaired with lañas (grapes) or with the cordat.

Vocabulary

greixonera: in Mallorca, clay pot; also the stew cooked in it.
greixoneró / greixonereta: diminutives (DCVB).
cordada: wrapped in wire mesh.
saïmera: greixonera with cutouts to pour the butter.
amb brec: with pouring spout.
rostidora: elongated greixonera for roasting.
bomber: large, cylindrical and low greixonera.
biel, malaguenya, mitja mà, perol: size names in Pòrtol.
qui amb greixonera cou, amb poc menjar en té prou: saying (DCVB).

History

Andalusian era: the refractory clay of Pòrtol seems already known (Coll Conesa 2020).
1485-1527: copper, iron and clay grexonera in Catalan inventories (DCVB).
19th century: the Archduke draws greixoneres among the Mallorcan clay pieces (Die Balearen).
1970: Baltasar Coll remembers in Memoria acolorida d'unes fires those from Pòrtol and Sa Cabaneta arriving at the Llucmajor fair loaded with plats, olles, greixoneres, cassolins and ribells (cited in the IV Jornades de Marratxí).
2024: the Marratxí olleries receive the Emblemàtics Balears distinctive.

On veure'n

Pòrtol Olleries: Can Bernadí , Can Vent , Cas Canonge .
Fang Museum (Sa Cabaneta) .
Fira del Fang (Marratxí) , early March.
Museum of Mallorca, Etnològica Section (Muro) : traditional ceramics and cuisine.

Why is it design

Exact material: local refractory clay that withstands direct fire.
Oven shape: domed base that distributes heat; handles to take it out hot.
Size system: names that are measurements, shared with the pot.
Repairable: the cordat and the slats extend the life of the piece; Design to last even cracked.
From the object to the plate: the container gives its name to the food.

For the project

Short series of redesigned greixoneres (lid, handle, stacking) with a Pòrtol pot, maintaining clay and lathe.
Tasting table: cooking a greixonera at the Fira del Fang with the oller who made it.
Trade: ceramics-i-gerreria . Files: olla-cassola-i-perol , escudelles-i-plats-de-portol , foganya-i-estris-del-foc .

Frequently asked questions

What is Greixonera?

The Mallorcan clay pot. In Mallorca greixonera is the name of the cassola de terra (DCVB, Mall.) and also the stew that is cooked inside, almost always in…

What are the traditional words for Greixonera?

Some words: amb brec, biel, malaguenya, mitja mà, perol, bomber, cordada, greixonera, greixoneró / greixonereta, qui amb greixonera cou, amb poc menjar en té prou, rostidora.

Sources

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

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