Santa Clara Trapologia: The Case of a Traditional Textile Technology
摘要
Trapologia (Portuguese concept), like trapologia, is the concept that led us to develop the research presented here. Trapologia is a weaving technique that dates back to antiquity. It is traditional knowledge that initially aimed to utilise used fabrics to create new products that were useful and of great practical value to the day-to-day lives of past generations. Rag blankets and carpets were the main products produced. The parish of Santa Clara, in the town of Almodôvar, has a vast tradition and an extensive collection of products from bygone eras that continue to be produced, albeit in smaller quantities, given the lack of specialised professionals with knowledge of this ancient technology. These initial considerations lead us to the research question: What are the differentiating elements of knowledge about the traditional technology of trapologia that characterise the products of the parish of Santa Clara? The main objectives of this research are to understand the existence of knowledge about the weaving “Trapologia” technique in Santa Clara. To identify the differentiating elements of the products usually made in the parish from those from other regions of the country, recording this traditional practice in historical and cultural terms in Santa Clara. In the first phase, the research methodology is based on a bibliographic collection of the historical and cultural background of the technology. The second phase is based on research through semi-structured interviews with people from the community who usually develop this traditional technology and tell the stories of this essential element of the region’s cultural heritage.