Siurell

Siurell is a traditional ceramic piece from Mallorca that has a leisure function and as a whistle. They are generally made of clay and whitewashed with lime. They are usually decorated with colorful brushstrokes.

Siurell

This is a object of popular Mallorcan ceramics. They have been made in types. They have been used as toys by children from families, although during segle 19th and early segle XIX century became fashionable.

The typical day to buy siurells is during Sant Marçal, held on June 30 at sanctuary of Sa Cabaneta.

Description

Some people think it comes from an ancient Arabic toy, although there are also similar forms in Sardinia, Ibiza and Crete. The Cretan forms are found in the Heraklion Museum from excavations at the Palace of Knossos.

There is another theory that suggests that they originated in Greek culture centuries before Christianity. The siurell expresses the traditions of the Bronze Age. It has been attributed religious significance due coincidences and similarities with archaeology of Greece, Cyprus, Greece or Sardinia.

In Segovia there are similar figures also with whistle, but siurell shows characteristics with Mallorcan folk dances.

Curiosities

Joan Miró really liked siurells. In interview, he said:

I watch them constantly. Each figure has its own physiognomy. Although they are produced by the hundreds. They are very popular. Especially among children.[...] There will be a festival here soon. A popular festival with a small fair. You will see many small dolls like these for sale, they only cost a few pesetas. These dolls have an extraordinary importance for me, look at the expressiveness of the face and the attitude

— Joan Miró.

Bibliography

• Erben, Walter (1 March 2004). Miró. Editorial Taschen. ISBN 978-3-8228-2358-3.

Other websites

• Website about siurells (Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine)
• The siurell on the Marratxi website (Archived 2008-07-27 at the Wayback Machine)
• The siurell at Mallorca Festival