May 14, 2014

ANDALUCIA'S CRAFTS & CORK INDUSTRY ...

  Local crafts in Andalucia include products made from wicker, leather items and intricate lace designs.

                                       Like this lace appliqué waistcoat
                                           Lace making in Granada
                              And a master Cordoban leather worker practising his art
                                               and wickerwork 
                                               Err, fancy a test drive?
                              
                                    ORIGIN OF CORKS: ANDALUCIA'S CORK INDUSTRY

If you find yourself travelling in western Andalucia - anywhere from Gaucin to Ubrique, Ronda to Vejer next month between June 15 and August 15 - you might catch a glimpse of the most enigmatic (Legal) agricultural industry in Andalucia: the cork crop. Law forbids the cork oak collectors, usually employees of the cork factories from removing cork from the trees outside this brief priod, as it might damage the health of the trees. The men spend 2 years at college studying their subject before they Are so much as allowed near a tree with one of the array of special cork knives. Outside the 2 month harvesting period, the men all have different jobs in the processing factories for the rest of the year.

The iberian cork industry  - as well as bottle stoppers, it's also used in diverse processes from car construction to aeroplane insulation - is worth an estimated 2 billion dollars. Following the disastrous forest fires in Portugal in 2003, Spain has become the world's biggest single producer of cork.



Enjoy!

14 comments:

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Love that lace vest.

I had no idea cork was so difficult to harvest...

xxoo,

RMW

Terra said...

Interesting post about the lace making and cork industry. I read that it is better for the wineries to use cork (not plastic) since the cork forests are great wildlife preserves.

21 Wits said...

Zesty for sure! What great stunningly creative outfits as well, all your photos are great. Especially the bike too! I'd wear the lovely fashion in your first photo!

Jenny said...

Wow! What a tedious craft. These are so interesting. xo Jenny

Gattina said...

Laces I know well, we have the Bruges and Brussels laces here !

carol l mckenna said...

Fascinating creations ~ great shots for Z ~ xoxo

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

SarahBeth said...

Amazing -- I had never really thought about where corks came from, but I didn't imagine a tree! Although, it only seems logical, now that I think about it!! Love that wicker motorcycle!

SarahBeth said...

Amazing -- I had never really thought about where corks came from, but I didn't imagine a tree! Although, it only seems logical, now that I think about it!! Love that wicker motorcycle!

fredamans said...

That wicker bike is some amazing craftsmanship! WOW!

Lmkazmierczak said...

I have a renewed appreciation for these artisans! http://lauriekazmierczak.com/zip-a-dee-doo-dah/

Betty said...

I have to admit that I had no idea cork came from a tree. I guess I had just never thought about it before. Very interesting post.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful work by those artisans.

Unknown said...

Wow. There is a lot going on in the craft world. Thanks for sharing some of the amazing photographs.

Splendid Little Stars said...

very interesting post!
What a lot of effort goes into cork collecting.