Still in the Azores....
A few traditional textile terms that I came across in the
Azores which needed further exploration were:
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| Green Fields above the Harbour in Horta, Fiail |
Manta de
Retalhos. This term is often used
when describing a landscape of green fields, likening the scene to a “patchwork
quilt”. The term translates loosely as “motley”
although I suspect we would think in terms of scrap or charm quilts. Inner Blooming has a photo of her interpretation
on the subject of traditional mantas or quilts, which is more to the point. Featured are reds, blacks and whites –
traditional colours. This was the closest reference I could find.
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| Woad, a souce of blue dye. |
Colchas de
Ponto Alto. Weaving typical of
Sao Jorge. Handloomed quilts described
as “high points” or webs of St George.
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| Tolha de mesa (Terciera) Tablecloth |
Manta de Farrapos are made
on wooden looms with left over strips of colourful fabrics. Fabrics are torn or cut into strips, joined
end to end and then rolled into balls of “yarn”. These strips are handloomed into colourful
rag rugs.
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| Colcha (Terciera) Quilt |
Cobertores are blankets
and I’m presuming woollen ones at that. Pano de terra woven on Terciera were also made of wool.
Dyes grown on the islands included woad (blue), cudbear (purple) and dragon tree fruit (red).
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| Pano de cozinha (Terciera) Kitchen Cloth |
Cloth was typically woven from flax, linen, tow (a course linen), rags or wool on horizontal looms.
Don’t for one minute think this was easy to put
together. What a tangled mess with too
few examples (on line) and too little information, so do feel free to expand
this list of traditional Portuguese weaving and quiltmaking terminology. I am also wondering too if there isn’t some
mix in the translation between blankets & quilts and woven (loomed) and
stitched. Unfortunately it’s too late
now. What is not lost however is the
meaning attributed to these traditional handcrafts. Weaving has been practised for centuries and
the practice of re-use, now fashionable in our throw-away society,
essential. Patterns were traditional and
most likely varied from village to village.
If you want to see some brilliant modern day interpretations though, try
these by Joao Burno Videira.
