Wood carving and sculpture (altarpieces, imagery) — Traditional craft of Mallorca

What it is and technique

The carver carves wood in relief or in bulk: retaules (altarpieces), images of devotion, eaves, frames and furniture. The altarpiece unites several trades: carver, assembler, gilder and painter. This file groups carving, imagery and wood sculpture: there is not enough data to separate them.

Short story

1547-1548: the master Thomàs Armengual carves the main altarpiece of Santa Eulària (Palma) (study of Joan M. Palou).
Second half of the 16th century: Dominicans and Jesuits reactivate artistic demand in Mallorca.
17th century: Pere Joan Pinya (c. 1600-1680), author of altarpieces and carvings.
17th century: Antoni Ballester, possible author of the Sant Vicenç Ferrer altarpiece in Manacor (hypothesis).
17th century: carved eaves of the University House (Palma City Council).
1904-1914: in Gaudí's renovation, the main baroque altarpiece of La Seu was dismantled (Villalonga, 2014).
20th-21st century: the profession shifts to the restoration of altarpieces and images.

Process step by step

1. Trace: drawing of the set and contract with the client (fraternity, convent).

2. Wood: pine or soft and stable wood; dried (to verify species in Mallorca).

3. Assembly of the structure (streets, bodies, columns).

4. Carving: roughing with ax and gouges, detail with fine gouges.

5. Filler: plaster and glue on the wood.

6. Gilding with gold leaf and polychrome (stewed, red).

7. Assembly in the temple.

Forms and objects

Retaule major and chapel altarpieces.
Images of saints, Virgins, Christs.
Carved overhangs and eaves.
Marcs, choir cadirats, pulpits.
Size applied to the furniture (calaixeres, consoles).

Vocabulary

tallista / tallador: who carves.
imatger: image author.
retaule: altarpiece.
carrer / pis: street and body of the altarpiece.
gúbia: gouge.
daurador: gilder.
pa d'or: gold leaf.
estofat: browning and scraping technique.
encarnat: skin color in images.
policromia: applied color.
voladís: eaves.

Geography

Palma: Seu, Santa Eulària, Sant Francesc, Town Hall.
Towns: baroque altarpieces in almost all the parishes (Manacor, etc.).
Current carving or imagery workshops in Mallorca: not identified by name (to verify; search for restorers and the Cercador d'artesans).

Xifres

Altarpiece of Santa Eulària: 1547-1548.
Pinya: c. 1600-1680.
Baroque altarpiece of La Seu dismantled: 1904-1914.
No census of active carvers.

Why is it design

Wooden architecture: the altarpiece is a modular system (streets, bodies).
Visual communication for an audience that did not read.
Networking: carver + gilder + painter = first design “studio”.

State

Context: historical office; Today it lives above all as a restoration.

For the project

Possible piece: the eaves and moldings as a repertoire of shapes for the atlas; contemporary carving commission from a restorer.
Contact: Andreu Josep Villalonga (UIB); restaurateurs of the Consell de Mallorca.
Basic question: what remains of the carving when there are no longer altarpieces to make?

Frequently asked questions

What is Wood carving and sculpture (altarpieces, imagery)?

The carver carves wood in relief or in bulk: retaules (altarpieces), images of devotion, eaves, frames and furniture. The altarpiece unites several trades…

Who practises Wood carving and sculpture (altarpieces, imagery) in Mallorca today?

The Balearic Islands Crafts Register lists 28 artisans linked to this craft, in Palma, Alaró, Esporles, Llucmajor, Manacor.

What are the traditional words for Wood carving and sculpture (altarpieces, imagery)?

Some words: carrer / pis, daurador, encarnat, estofat, gúbia, imatger, pa d'or, policromia.

Sources

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

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