ARTEFACT GALLERY #12

Tachadeira 

[Artesanía Cunqueira]

Proposed by: Jorge Pérez (cofounder and main promoter at Espacio Tormaleo)

Espacio Tormaleo - SPAIN
Technical Specifications

Name

Tachadeira (in asturianu -local dialect-, also known as Trilladeira in neighboring regions or Tajadera in Spanish) / Wooden bowl called Tachadeira (no English translation)

Tipology

Tableware / Woodcraft

Authorship

Víctor García – La Guarida del Cunqueiru

Date or period:

January 2025

Materials:

Walnut wood

Techniques:

Traditional foot-powered lathe

Country/ region:

Spain, Asturias, Trabáu/Tablado (Degaña)

The “Tachadeira” is a beautifully handcrafted wooden piece made with an ancient foot-powered lathe, a technique passed down through generations in the Cunqueiros region, between Ibias and Degaña. The name “Tachadeira” comes from “tachada,” meaning a slice of meat, as it was originally used for slicing. This practical item features a wooden block in the centre, serving as a cutting board for cured meats, cheeses, or vegetables, and can also be used to serve food. Besides its unique crafting process, the Tachadeira carries the history of a culture focused on making household items, including bowls, as part of a set called “tixela.” This is why the people who practiced this craft in the villages of Trabau, Il Curralín, Il Bao, and Astierna were known as “tixileiros” or “cunqueiros”.

DETAILS

Figure 4 – Wooden block in the centre. Source: Víctor García -La Guarida del Cunqueiru-.

Figure 5 – Concave part. Source: Víctor García -La Guarida del Cunqueiru-.

Figure 6 – External decoration. Source: Víctor García -La Guarida del Cunqueiru-.

Inspiration

Figure 7 – Wooden plate for cutting meat, 19th century. Source: Todocolección [https://en.todocoleccion.net/antiques/plato-madera-para-cortar-carne-siglo-19~x286314493]

Figure 8 – Old shepherd’s chopping board, 19th century.. Source: Todocolección [https://www.todocoleccion.net/antiguedades/antigua-tajadera-pastoril-s-xix~x436463637]

Location


The selection of this artefact is the responsibility of designer Maria Bruno Néo and is part of her doctoral work ‘A HISTÓRIA INCOMPLETA DO DESIGN PORTUGUÊS: CONTRIBUTOS PARA A INSCRIÇÃO DA DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO/THE INCOMPLETE HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE DESIGN: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSCRIPTION OF DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO’ supervised by Professors Susana Barreto and Luís Mendonça, both from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto/Portugal.