- A dynasty of bell-makers from Palencia with a history stretching back more than three centuries, a Basque basket weaver based in Galicia who trained as a biologist, a historic artisan workshop specialising in earthenware jars in Cáceres, and a mosaic artist from Alicante now based in Madrid: these are the winners of this fifth edition.
- This edition highlights some of the major challenges and opportunities facing high-end craftsmanship: brand building, internationalisation, generational succession and the transformation of expertise into cultural and economic value.
Círculo Fortuny has held the fifth edition of its Master Craftsman Awards, an event now firmly established as a forum for recognition and reflection on Spanish high-end craftsmanship and its future prospects. The event brought together leading figures from the worlds of design, fashion, jewellery and glassblowing to address issues such as the transmission of craftsmanship and generational succession, the connection between craftsmanship and design, the development of contemporary artisan brands, innovation, internationalisation and the role of artisanal excellence as a cultural and creative expression of Spain.
To mark this fifth anniversary, Círculo Fortuny has sought to highlight some of the major challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of crafts of excellence in Spain, in a context increasingly linked to authenticity and the distinctive value of handmade items. To this end, it identifies some of the key factors for driving the future of Spanish high-end craftsmanship, understood not only as the custodian of techniques and trades, but also as a generator of brand identity, culture, innovation and economic value.
In this context, the connection between craftsmanship, brands, the creative sectors and institutions is crucial for consolidating a more robust ecosystem and projecting a contemporary international image of excellence, linked to Spanish know-how.
It is precisely this collaboration with brands, together with a commitment to design and to innovation in which technology can act as an ally to the craft without undermining it, that is also fundamental to addressing another of the sector’s key challenges for the future: generational renewal.
Among the sector’s key priorities for the future is also the need to continue strengthening an ecosystem capable of supporting the evolution of artisan workshops and transforming technical and creative excellence into structural capacity, visibility and the ability to project itself internationally. In this process, areas such as management, marketing, digitalisation, internationalisation and brand building emerge as fundamental tools not only for reinforcing the sector’s future competitiveness and sustainability, but also for ensuring the continuity and evolution of many of these crafts of excellence.
According to the president of Círculo Fortuny, Xandra Falcó, “we have workshops, techniques and crafts of enormous international prestige which, for decades, have been nourishing industries linked to fashion, design, gastronomy, architecture and interior design. The challenge for Spanish haute artisanat is no longer simply to preserve these historic crafts, but also to create the necessary conditions for this heritage to grow in scope, competitiveness and capacity to generate cultural and economic value for Spain.”
Master Craftsman Awards: raising the profile and safeguarding a legacy
Since 2022, Círculo Fortuny has been promoting the Master Craftsman Awards with the aim of raising the profile of and safeguarding fine craftsmanship as an essential value of our cultural, economic and creative identity.
The event featured a discussion between haute couture designer Jan Taminiau and Xandra Falcó entitled ‘Where Craft Becomes Haute Couture’, exploring the relationship between craftsmanship, time, excellence and contemporary creation.
The programme also included the round-table discussion “Beauty Born of Fire and the Hand”, dedicated to glassblowing—recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—and its ability to engage with design, architecture and contemporary art, with the participation of Davide Signoretto, master craftsman and CEO of Pino Signoretto Studio (Murano); Diego Rodríguez, master glassblower at the Royal Crystal Factory of La Granja; and Mar Aldeguer, from the family that owns Gordiola, as moderator.
Furthermore, the round table “From Goldsmithing to Fine Jewellery: Centuries of Craftsmanship” brought together Juan Garrido, owner of Garrido; Jorge Leitão, CEO of Leitão & Irmão (Portugal); and Rosa Tous, corporate vice-president of TOUS, to reflect on the passing on of the craft, excellence in craftsmanship and the contemporary evolution of goldsmithing and fine jewellery.
The official welcome address was delivered by Almudena Maíllo, Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council, whilst the closing address was given by Aránzazu Pérez, Director-General for Tourism, Trade and Crafts in Castilla-La Mancha.
The award winners, in detail
In this fifth edition, the association has recognised the talent and mastery of four leading figures in fine craftsmanship: Tinajas Moreno León (Cáceres) with the award for Best Craft Career; the Basque basket weaver based in Galicia, Idoia Cuesta, as Best Avant-garde Craftsperson; and Iván Alvarado, a mosaic artist from Alicante now based in Madrid, as Rising Star. All of them will gain access to an exclusive mentoring programme run by some of the sponsoring brands. The honorary ‘Living Treasure’ award has gone to Manuel Quintana (Palencia), a representative of a dynasty of bell-makers with a history stretching back over three centuries.
Lifetime Achievement in Craftsmanship, Tinajas Moreno León (Cáceres)
The firm’s oldest piece dates back to 1783. This makes Antonio Moreno the tenth verifiable generation of Tinajas Moreno León, based in Torrejoncillo (Cáceres). The process used to craft their handmade earthenware jars and clay kilns is the same as that used by his ancestors. They are possibly the artisan workshop currently producing the largest pieces of their kind in the world.
Some of their most notable commissions have been for the Atrio hotel and restaurant, and they export to 16 countries across Europe, the Americas and Oceania.
Living Treasure, Manuel Quintana (Palencia)
For more than three centuries, generation after generation, the Quintana family has been dedicated to bell casting. A total of 60 bells bearing the surname Quintana have been catalogued in Tierra de Campos. Among the most notable works are the carillon and set of bells cast for the Cathedral of Santa María Real de La Almudena in Madrid to mark the wedding of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain.
Best Avant-garde Craftsperson, Idoia Cuesta (Basque Country, based in Galicia)
Idoia Cuesta stands out for her work in the field of basketry, transcending traditional techniques and exploring new possibilities through the combination of materials, knowledge and creative processes. Her training as a biologist, together with a solid professional career and recognised technical mastery, has enabled her to develop her own distinctive style. Her creations bring together textiles, leather, plant-based materials and other elements, which are integrated into innovative forms. From her workshop in the Galician countryside, Idoia Cuesta produces work that combines research, experimentation and craftsmanship, helping to push the boundaries of contemporary basketry.
Rising Star: Iván Alvarado de Mosaista (Alicante, based in Madrid)
Iván Alvarado has revived the craft, design, production and restoration of handmade hydraulic tiles, an activity that reached its peak in the late 19th century. Following the closure of the last workshop producing hydraulic tiles in Spain in 1979, he took on the challenge of reviving a lost technique to restore its place in architecture with character and excellence. His career bears witness to an absolute dedication to a craft that had been dormant for decades and which today, thanks to his vision and from his workshop in Madrid, is once again a benchmark of excellence and distinction.
About the jury
The jury comprises 12 members, all of whom are ambassadors for fine craftsmanship, excellence and culture: the president of Círculo Fortuny, Xandra Falcó; the co-presidents of Círculo Fortuny’s Craft Commission, the international landscape architect Fernando Caruncho and the managing director of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Evelio Acevedo; Puig’s Chief Consumer & AI Acceleration Officer, Vanita Sabnani; the president of the Loewe Foundation, Sheila Loewe; TOUS’s corporate vice-president and Reach and Relevance Officer, Rosa Tous; the president of the Royal Crystal Factory of La Granja, Andrés Ortega; the founder and designer of Navascués, Cristina Martínez-Pardo; the renowned interior designer and director of Estudio Caramba, Tomás Alía; the editor of CLASSPAPER, Iván Martínez-Cubells; the Directorate-General for Tourism of Madrid City Council; and the Directorate-General for Tourism, Trade and Crafts of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha.
This edition is supported by: Puig, the Loewe Foundation, TOUS, the Royal Glassworks of La Granja, Navascués, the Directorate-General for Tourism of Madrid City Council, and the Directorate-General for Tourism, Trade and Crafts of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha.
About CÍRCULO FORTUNY
Círculo Fortuny is the Spanish association for the high-end and excellence sector, whose main objective is to serve as a common forum for Spanish brands and companies in the cultural, craft and creative fields, and to defend their legacy both nationally and internationally. Founded in 2011, it currently comprises 85 members. Since 2011, it has been a member of ECCIA (European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance), the leading body promoting and defending the high-end sector in the EU, which comprises the seven main European luxury associations (Círculo Fortuny, Comité Colbert, Fondazione Altagamma, Meisterkreis, Walpole British Luxury, Laurel and Gustaff III Komittee), collectively representing more than 600 companies and brands.
Further information at www.circulofortuny.com
Source: ION, Image and Communication