CRAFTWORK

CRAFTWORK

Craftwork in Gipuzkoa and in the Basque Country

The origin of craft is to be found in a society's need for some specific goods in the different fields of work.

The extinction of some types of craft, passed on for decades and even centuries, from one generation to another, has two reasons: first, alternative ways of production that, either reduce production costs, or improve the quality and durability of goods. Secondly the dying out of trades or ways of life that gave rise to specific craft; for example, when mass production was first introduced in some factories, thereby, reducing production costs and process time without lowering the quality.

Kaiku made by Domingo Etxandi Errazu (Navarre).

The discovery of plastic and its by-products meant, in many cases, the replacement of traditional wood or metal paJts. That is the case of the "kaiku", a container used by Basque shepherds to collect, deliver, and treat milk; now it is made of plastic instead of wood, which means it is easier to keep clean, laste longer, and has a lower market price.

The gradual but inexorable disappearance of craftmen who make leather gloves for the game of pelota, is another example of the second group mentioned, because the users themselves have decided its fate: there are fewer and fewer competitions of that kind, and the craft runs the risk of total extinction.

In the Basque Country craft development undergone the same change and problems in the course of time. New technologies, as well as new types of undoubtedly interesting craft, are now coming onto the market- but from an historical and cultural point of view, we must realize that customs and ways of life that have survived for centuries are disappearing before our very eyes. That is to say, we shall be the last wit- nesses able to see "in situ" a part of our complex cultural heritage.

In the following paragraphs we are going to describe, briefly, the different types of craft from an ethnological point of view.

The north of the Basque Country is a region (see Introduction) where craftwork has its own distinct identity, which most closely reflects the image of Basque people held abroad.

The water from the rivers that cut through its narrow valleys, together with the abundant wood in the forests, encouraged the settlement of small foundries (ferrerías, olak) to work the iron deposits; that was a forerunner of the present metallurgy industry. In Gipuzkoa, in the town of Legazpia, Mirandaola foundry has been kept in perfect condition; once a year, on the first Sunday after May 3rd, it is set in motion as part of the local festivities (see Festivities).

Different types of craft, related to the agricultural world, arose to provide for the needs of daily work on the farms, where the economy is based on a small vegetable garden, arable land, and open fields for grazing surrounded by wooded areas.

Therefore, we find craftmen who make all sort of things, ranging from the essentials for a Basque farmer's clothes, to tools for working in the forest, and agricultural implements needed on small holdings.

An untanned abarka in Juan Elgarresgeta's hand.

Then, there is the "abarkagile" who usually makes the farmer's footwear (in Gipuzkoa, Juan Elgarresta from Gabiria, still makes "abarkas", the traditional Basque farmer's footwear, the old way). The harness-maker makes a whole range of leather goods: saddles, collars, and every kind of strap and bridle, in the towns of Ordizia and Tolosa. The ploughmen who in the past used to go the farm to work "on the spot" the yoke that joins together each pair of oxen, according to the size of their horns; in the Basque Country the joke used to rest on the horns. In Asteasu, Aia and Hernani, this trade, although in the process of becoming extinct, is still alive.

Near Azpeitia, in Nuarbe district and its outskirts, it is worth mentioning the craftmen who make baskets out of chestnut and wicker strips.

As already mentioned, the kaiku was a wooden container used by Basque shepherds, but it is now, almost exclusively, a decorative item. That is why there are only four "kaikugile" (craftmen who make kaikus) left today, who still make kaikus; all of them living in the Bidasoa basin, in the country towns of Zubieta, Errazu and Sunbilla, in Navarre.

Many of the axes used, both by the Basque farmers and the wood-cutters, come from the last smiths' forges to have kept their trade; among others, Juan Jauregui in Urnieta, and the Erviti brothers in Leitza are frequently asked to sharpen the blades of sythes, or to restore them to their original shape.

Pablo Iturgaiz's barrels, the last cooper in Gipuzkoa.

The towns on the Mediterranean side of the Basque Country have a mainly agricultural economy. Wine growing is a widespread activity in this region, and the type of craft related to are barrel making, and wineskin and leather wine flask manufacturing. The last workshops for traditional barrel making are located on the Navarre riverside. In Gipuzkoa, Pablo Iturgaiz from Pasai Antxo is the last craftman still making barrels. In the past, a large part of wine production from La Rioja and Navarre was exported from the port of Pasai Antxo.

Pottery was never firmly implanted in the Basque Country, especially in Gipuzkoa, may be due to the widespread use of wood for making pots and containers. Even so, it is worth mentioning the type of pitcher known as "pedarra" as a characteristic example.

The trade of the quarryman is one which is almost extinct. It is an important loss, because in the past, it was a widespread craft, and brought fame to the Basque Country, as in the case of the quarrymen who took part in the building of El Escorial monastery.

Talking about food, the famous Idiazabal cheese should be mentioned. It is made with ewe's milk, and its production is our shepherds' best letter of recommendation. As for drinks, "txakoli" is a must. It is a sharp-tasting wine, made in a traditional way in Gipuzkoa (in Getaria, Zarautz and Zumaia). Although it does not attain the rank of a wine, cider, a very popular drink among customers, still has its traditional taste. Cider production takes place in towns around San Sebastián (Hernani, Astigarraga, Lasarte, Urnieta, Andoain, Usurbil, Tolosa...).

In the Basque Country, to speak about traditional musical instruments is to speak about the "txistu" (an indigenous wind instrument) nowadays made in factories in Zumarraga and Lazkao. But we cannot leave aside other well known autochthonous wind instnuments, as the "alboka" (León Bilbao from Arteaga in Vizcaya - Castillo and Elejabeitia - is both a virtuoso and a maker of that musical instrument), and the "gaita", widely used in Navarre.

Traditional Argizaiolas.

Finally, we shall mention just a few other important crafts in Gipuzkoa, that is the damask work done in Eibar, a gun-making town; the making of wicker baskets for the game of pelota in Orio and Ibarra, and furniture and wood carving in the majority of towns in Gipuzkoa. In this last type of craft, it is also worth mentioning the walking sticks made in Irún and Hondarribia, and the "argizaiolas" (carved wooden battens) with wax candle wicks wound around them, which are placed on top of tombstones in some churches.

Last modified: Nov, 02, 1999