Old Wood Carved Wall Plaque of Mysterious Tradesman

Just found this last night.

It's definitely old but I don't know how old. Glad I took a closer look as at first it looks like those modern "medieval" mass produced home decor items.

One can see by the hanger on the back that it's old, as well as the type of craft he is engaged in, which I cannot really make out.

It is 15 & 3/4" by 9 & 3/4" by 1 & 1/4".

 

His fingers seems to be going through the tool like it is some kind of scraper.

Is he scraping sheep skin?

 

"These beautiful and unique wall plaques were purchased in Spain in 1969 .

They depict various tradesmen - apothecary, blacksmith, carpenter, and one unknown profession, at work in their shops."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155444628139?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

Yours is the "unknown profession". It looks like he may be doing something with a blowpipe in his mouth, and may be manipulating a small bellows with his hand.

 

Thanks. Thinking of a best answer. So much for the seller's "unique" term.

I wonder how many sets of these were made and when???

Maybe they were made in different time periods, like early copies?

The faces are different.

 

They were hand carved, so some variation would be expected, and some carvers might be better than others.

 

this listing notes Auro Artesania - Spain

WOOD CARVING-ESTATE VINTAGE-IMPRESSIVE-RUSTIC-WALL PLAQUES 2nd Listing | #1975868902 (worthpoint.com)

 

Company still in business. Based in Santiago de Compostela.

http://ouroartesania.com/principal.htm

Debora

 

Think we're talking about "craftsmen" rather than "tradesmen."

Debora

 

Looks very like "fancy" glassblowing.

http://gatheringacrowd.com/2020/03/23/mrs-johnston-18th-century-fancy-glassblower/
"‘Fancy’ glassblowing refers to the process of working, not at a furnace, but at a table over an oil lamp with rods of glass."

 

Thanks for all the help. Could anyone figure out from the links when this company started, and when these might be from? I wrote the company but sometimes companies don't write back about general questions.

 

I doubt they'd speak English.

Debora

 

The website has scant information. It would be interesting seeing a documentary about this company and who works there now.

 

No company history. And email address is designed "for the trade" only. Ah, this is helpful. Founded 1985.

Debora

 

National Classification of Activities, CNAE-2009 is 1629.

At first I thought, wow, 1629 was their founding year.

 

No such luck. You want Año de Fundación.

Debora

 

It may be a different company. The examples I found on ebay (linked above) were bought in Spain in 1969.

 

Thank you for the reminder. I did see the reference to 1969. I traced the company via the P.O. box on their web site. I think the page I found is an iteration of the company (perhaps the passage of ownership to a new generation) but the founding was earlier as you point out. Apologies to all for the mis-direction.

https://es.kompass.com/c/manufacturas-compostelanas/es0026934/

Debora

 

It must be a different company unless they are using recently hand forged nails. Sometimes those business listings have wrong information. Sometimes they are just commercial ventures that put them out, and even if they are governmental, they might still goof. The original company has to go back to the early 20th if not 19th Century.

 

I very, very, very much doubt that. I think the 1969 date is a good directional date. These are souvenir items and there wasn't large scale tourism in Spain until the 1960s. Spain has a tradition of rustic furniture on which hand forged nails are often used.

Debora

 

'unless they are using recently hand forged nails.'


forget the nails...they could be from anywhere....
but these triangle hooks...haven't been around long...