Llauners and estanyers (tinsmiths)

What it is and technique

The llauner made and repaired objects from llauna (tin: thin iron sheet tinned on both sides): lamps, funnels, watering cans, cans, roasters. In Mallorca it was also called llanterner. The estayer worked tin or tinned metal objects. Cutting, folding, riveting and tin soldering crafts.

Process step by step

1. Trace the development of the piece on the sheet metal.

2. Carve with sheet metal scissors.

3. Fold and staple edges and seams.

4. Solder with a soldering iron heated to fire and tin.

5. Marinate: put new butts, cover holes, replace handles.

Forms and objects

• Llauna (can), rotisserie (oven tray), funnel, watering can, oil lamp and lantern: see ressol i cresol , poal i cadufos .
• Toy objects: “un saber de llauna” (DCVB).

Vocabulary

• llauner: someone who makes or fixes tin objects.
• llanterner: llauner (Val., Mall.); also a lantern maker.
• llander: synonym.
• llauna: tinplate; also tin and baking tray.
• estanyer: tin worker; also who tins objects.
• estanyar: cover with tin.
• soldador: tool for melting tin (per verify local term).

Geography

• Neighborhood or town workshop; also street vendors (check in Mallorca).

Short story

• 1456: ordinance that mentions “tots e sengles stanyés” (DCVB, Catalan area).
• 1486: capítols dels drapaires de llana de Mallorca: "a stanyer" will be chosen to make the seals and lead balls to mark the cloths.
• 20th century: plastic and aluminum put an end to llauneria.

State

Almost extinct. Register of artisans (consultation 10/13/2026): 3 llauner registrations in Mallorca (two people) and 3 llautoner registrations. It survives in restoration and in party pieces.

Why is it design

• Flat development: each object is born from a pattern cut out of sheet metal, like a metal origami.
• Repair as a rule: the piece is patched a thousand times.
• Quality control: the estanyer manufactured the seals that certified the cloths; brand design in 1486.

For the project

• Series of llauna objects (lamps, watering cans) with an inscribed llauner.
• Sheet metal pattern making as an educational workshop.

Sources

• dcvb.iec.cat/results.asp?Word=llauner
• dcvb.iec.cat/results.asp?Word=llanterner
• dcvb.iec.cat/results.asp?Word=estanyer
• dcvb.iec.cat/results.asp?Word=llauna
• caib.es/siciefront/artesania/index.jsp?idioma=ct

Working text from the Disseny Indígena knowledge base, machine-translated from Spanish.

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