When sensitivity and knowledge come together to unleash creativity, magic happens. That almost dreamlike state transforms a fortunate few into transmitters of cultures and creators of unique works of art.
All civilisations have found in manufacturing a way to preserve their beliefs, their culture, their values and the authenticity of each people. Thus, human beings transferred the characteristics of their environment to everyday objects, creating items with soul and deep symbolic meaning.
It is in this context, fuelled by memory, intangible heritage and time, that the hallmarks of a community’s identity are forged, forming the seed of popular art from which the values of excellence emerge.
Thanks to this evolutionary process, the concept of craftsmanship transcends beyond simply being handmade; it is a testament to time and dedication, a statement of the mastery and love that the artisan invests in the creation.
Today’s model of society distances us from the meaning of handmade objects and disconnects us from the history of patience and precision that accompanies each item, which speaks of the artisan themselves, the raw materials chosen, and the time invested in transforming them.
Craftsmanship connects us with our emotions through textures, symbols and experiences, which is why handmade items endure over time, also as part of our memories.
Círculo Fortuny, a non-profit association created with the aim of promoting excellence in various sectors, enhancing the image of the Spain brand and that of its associates, and creating a common narrative for the Spanish cultural and prestige brands sector, has been working for several years to protect the values of our roots through craftsmanship. They rightly understand that supporting talent builds a guarantee of sustainability for the distinctive expressions of Spanish culture.
Círculo Fortuny Master Craftsmen Awards
The association’s roadmap gives pride of place to the recognition and promotion of creative ingenuity as an effective tool for cross-cutting economic and social development. In this approach, they are committed to the sustainability of craftsmanship and artisans through promotion, recognition and support for their viability from a business perspective. With this objective in mind, the Círculo Fortuny Master Craftsmen Awards were created, an award given annually to individuals or projects that meet the necessary requirements according to the established criteria: artisan production of a product of the highest quality, proven experience in a craft, and serving as an inspiration to other young people or professionals in their field.
Master Craftsman represents the essence of high craftsmanship and their role goes beyond composition; they are the people who conserve, preserve and protect the essence of the craft and are responsible for passing on knowledge from generation to generation. In this way, any action to promote and support craftsmanship supports rural development, which is so necessary in the fight against depopulation, improves family finances and personal growth, and provides the key elements for the growth of high-end craftsmanship through professionalisation.
Its contribution of value is manifold and goes beyond the economic activity of local artisans.
It preserves the culture, values, traditions and heritage of rural areas, helping to stabilise the population and promote social integration. In turn, they enable a space for the emergence of disruptive craftsmanship that generates new creative trends.
It attracts high-quality tourism eager for experiences, promotes the circular economy, inclusion, respect for the environment and even mental health and pride in the community where it takes place, as well as changing consumption habits by raising awareness of the origin of products.
Since 2022, Circulo Fortuny has been working to catalogue those artisans who, through their knowledge, commitment and tireless dedication, have managed to bring a touch of excellence to the fruits of their labour. In recognition of their courage, it has awarded them prizes in different categories. We would like to take this opportunity to pay respectful tribute to these guardians of an important part of our culture.
Mantas Laurentino de Cabo. Award for Best Craftsmanship Career 2022.
Blankets from the town of Val de San Lorenzo in León are still made by hand using Spanish merino wool, and are one of the most renowned products of the Maragatería region. The first looms were installed in Val de San Lorenzo in the second half of the 19th century, giving new impetus to a craft tradition that continues to this day.
Luis Machi. Best Avant-Garde Craftsman 2022.
From the outset of this workshop, Luis’s aim was to develop and preserve one of the oldest disciplines in glassmaking: glassblowing. Since 1999, he has devoted himself entirely to glass in his workshop in Albacete, where he creates hot glass pieces: from blown glass and Murano glass to torch-worked glass, fusing and thermoforming with flat glass.
Manuel Fernández Rovira. Young Promise Award 2022.
The works of this master craftsman from Albacete combine the best of knife-making tradition with originality. The search for new materials, some of which he manufactures himself, and innovation in his designs based on the tradition inherited from his ancestors characterise his knives. Committed and perfectionist, he is a craftsman with great international renown.
Pepita Alía. 2022 Living Treasure Honorary Award.
The late artisan from Lagartera was the leading promoter of traditional Lagartera embroidery and was considered one of the few living treasures of Spanish high craftsmanship. She learned to handle needle and thread alongside her mother, long before she started school, although she preferred to be treated as a weaver rather than an embroiderer, since, as she explained, the difference is that the latter draws on the fabric and embroiders with thread, while the former weaves the fabric, counts the threads and sows them.
Alfarería Tito. Living Treasure Honorary Award 2022.
The pottery workshop was founded in 1965 by Juan Martínez Villacañas (Tito) from Jaén, with the aim of creating objects that would convey the ancient wisdom of ceramics and defend the relevance of this craft in 21st-century society. They preserve the best of Iberian pottery tradition with an open, contemporary attitude, committed to the present and the future.
Cecilio Morales. 2022 Living Treasure Honorary Award.
Now deceased, Cecilio Morales was a leading figure in the art of working with clay. Cerámica de Fajalauza is the name given to the popular glazed and decorated pottery made in the Albaicín district of Granada, with a pottery tradition dating back to the 16th century, when the Morales family was already represented in the potters’ guild.
Abanicos Carbonell. Best Business Career Award 2023.
Founded in 1864, the fifth generation of the family continues the craft of making hand-painted, entirely handmade fans. The high quality of these unique pieces has meant that the fans have crossed borders to Japan and the Philippines and have been exhibited in museums in Spain and France, always highlighting the importance of the Spanish brand.
Álvaro M. Leiro. Best Avant-Garde Craftsman 2023.
A photographic journey through Galicia in the early 2000s to document the old crafts of traditional agriculture before they disappeared gave rise to a traditional basketry project, which uses natural fibres to make baskets, hats and corozas. The aim is to revive and keep alive a part of traditional Galician and Spanish craftsmanship that has survived to the present day but is on the verge of disappearing.
Javier Menacho. 2023 Young Promise Award
In 2009, he began his training in the craft of leatherworking as a saddler, evolving into a more artistic discipline such as leather goods and leather embossing. In 2015, the Seville-based craftsman decided to open his own workshop, focusing on creating bespoke pieces. In the not-too-distant future, he plans to move his workshop to the countryside and set up a training school.
Ángeles Espinar. 2023 Living Treasure Honorary Award.
She is the second generation of artisan embroiderers dedicated to making Manila shawls and handmade mantillas, since her grandmother opened a workshop in Seville in 1930. They create their own designs based on ancient drawings of nature, Chinese motifs and traditional customs, while the colourful embroidery is the result of a careful selection of hand-dyed fabrics. He uses the highest quality natural silks as the basis for his creations.
Juan Manuel Marcilla. Best Craftsmanship Career Award 2024.
He has spent his entire professional life at Cestería Marcilla. Juan Manuel is the second generation, and the legacy is being passed on to his son. It is recognised as an innovative company that is constantly adapting without losing sight of the essence of the craft, its attachment to the region and tradition, working to ensure that this type of craftsmanship can become a viable option for economic and business development in its environment.
The Exvotos. Best Avant-Garde Craftsman Award 2024.
The studio-workshop combines the art of sculpture, painting, decoration and design, applying it to ceramics, wood and paper to create an unusual and entertaining world of unique objects. The Seville workshop has produced exclusive limited edition decorative pieces, is working on the design of a textile collection for decoration, and continues to produce its container heads, its bestseller that reaches every corner of the globe.
Aitor Martínez. 2024 Young Talent Award.
Passionate about wood since childhood, it was in November 2021 when he decided to become a professional and devote himself entirely to woodworking. In 2023, he combined what he already knew with everything he learned during his time at the French school J. F. Escoulen, beginning to create sculptures and wood crafts, making unique and exclusive pieces.
Luz Camino. 2024 Living Treasure Honorary Award.
His creations have taken him to the Hispanic Society in New York and led to the publication of a monographic book with the prestigious publisher Rizzoli, featuring photographs of his creations, many of which are unique pieces that have never been exhibited before. His pieces can be found in the collections of museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.
