LOVE WHAT YOU DO

It is perhaps one of the premises of every craftsman.

To look at the raw material – clay, metal, wood, leather, fabric, stone, glass… – with the soul and with the hands. A preliminary step in artisan creation that distances the craftsman, from the very first moment, from industrial production and brings him closer to artistic creation.

The soul of craftsmanship

To dive into the origins of craftsmanship is to take a trip back in time to the darkness of prehistoric caves, to the journey back in time to the darkness of prehistoric caves, where handicraft with stones and bones turned these materials into everyday these materials into tools of daily use that gradually gradually crossed the frontier of the profitable to enter the world of craft and to enter the world of craft and artistic creation. These manual jobs, which have been passed down from father to son, are today a cultural and popular legacy that reflects the history, experiences and traditions of the villages in the province of Toledo.

It is therefore an artistic expression whose foundations lie in the traditions of a community. It is based on the transmission of knowledge through generations, often orally and therefore connected to the intangible heritage of towns and cities.

Handmade products

UNESCO itself has launched the definition, which is perhaps a bit narrow, but which can serve as a reference for us to know what we are talking about when we talk about what we are talking about when we talk about artisanal products.

“They are those produced by craftsmen, either entirely by hand, or with the aid of hand tools or even mechanical means, provided that the direct manual contribution of the craftsman remains the most important component of the finished product. the most important component of the finished product. They are produced without limitation in terms of quantity and using raw materials from sustainable resources. and using raw materials from sustainable resources. The special nature of handicraft products is based on their distinctive characteristics, which may be utilitarian, aesthetic, artistic, creative, culturally related, decorative, functional, traditional, symbolic, religiously and socially significant, functional, traditional, symbolic, religiously and socially significant ‘.

Produced by hand or with hand tools

Sustainable raw materials

Characteristics: utilitarian, aesthetic, artistic...

The craftsman

Behind this definition is always the craftsman. Their quiet, detailed, creative work, impregnated with the tradition of the secrets of ancient crafts, passed down from generation to generation, gives rise to objects that surround us, that are part of our lives, that decorate, yes, but also, and as an added value, continue, in many cases, to provide the utility for which they were originally conceived.

The craftsman’s work is imbued with originality and uniqueness. They work with their soul in their hands, and from their workshops come out unique products rooted in the most noble and popular tradition of our people.

Traditions that define our craftsmanship

The 21st century: tradition and modernity

Popular tradition that does not close the doors to the contemporary, to the modern. Thus, in the craftsmanship of the 21st century in the province of Toledo, tradition and innovation embrace each other in order to endure. Toledo’ s artisans apply processes and designs in line with new trends: tradition incorporated into the vertiginous development of the times; have opted for creative openness in an attempt to adapt to new forms and new times, new times, new markets, new and innovative products that contribute to preserve and renew a unique cultural heritage. In addition, they are gradually adding to sustainable development (a word that is so much in vogue today), to sustainable development (a word so much in vogue today) , which is the way to ensure their permanence in this globalised world . to ensure its permanence in this globalised world.

A hallmark of identity

In the province of Toledo, hundreds of craftsmen and workshops keep alive the flame of trades that form part of our cultural and heritage legacy. of trades that form part of our cultural and heritage legacy, but – and it is important not to forget this – today as yesterday, as almost since the first bone was carved in a cave, the artisan is the livelihood of many families.

The guide you have in your hands is an example of this. is an example of this – we must support their development, to encourage creativity, encourage marketing, promote their products and their authors, strengthen the cultural, social and economic value of handicrafts. In this path, traditional and innovative, popular and creative, classic and innovative, the work of the artisan is linked to the history of the people of Toledo. We are facing an expression of our popular culture and a precious heritage that becomes a sign of identity of an entire province.

¡Nuevo!
New!