\Cunqueiru\ or \tixileiru\ handicraft

Info

"Cunqueiru" or "tixileiru" handicraft
Language	Asturian,Spanish
Creator of object	1195
Contact	iain
Size	x x
Type	Intangible
Omeka	Link
Talk Page	Link

Omeka

The cunqueira or tixileira tradition is an ancient craft with records dating back to the 16th century, associated with a tax linked to this activity in the southwestern region of Asturias, especially in the municipalities of Ibias and Degaña, such as Sisterna, El Bao, Trabau, and El Corralín. This craft was dedicated to wood carving (usually using a lathe) to create domestic utensils, particularly wooden tableware known as "tixelas." Among these objects, the "cachus" (wooden bowls for drinking wine), "tachadeiras" (plates with an elevated center structure for cutting food), "cimbreiras" (airtight containers similar to modern tupperware), and others stood out. As for the denomination, "cunquiero" comes from the proximity to Galicia, where they were known for their work with "cuncos" or wooden bowls. However, in the early days, they preferred to call themselves "tixileiros" because they felt that the term "cunqueiro" referred only to the bowls, which they considered a reductive description. Today, the term "cunqueiro" is more common and widely accepted.

Beyond the production process, the cunqueira tradition was characterized by intense commercial transhumance. During the winters, from October to April, when agriculture was less productive and to reduce the number of mouths to feed, the men of the valley formed groups of about seven people, usually family members, who would travel to other towns to sell and produce their pieces. These groups started in Bierzo due to its proximity and then spread throughout the peninsula, dividing their routes towards the Ruta de la Plata, Madrid, Galicia, Catalonia, and even Andalusia. In addition to this mobility, the cunqueiros had their own guild language, which reinforced their cultural identity. However, with the arrival of mining and the industrialization of earthenware and porcelain production, this craft began to decline, disappearing by the mid-20th century. Despite this, in the 1980s, Victorino García, a neighbor from Trabau

"Cunqueiru" or "tixileiru" handicraft talk