From 1750 to 1804 seven generations of silversmiths named Pallarols made the art of working with precious metals an art of international effects. The story, which began in Barcelona, has remained in Buenos Aires ever since and has built an identity that is part of argentinian culture.
The artistic history of Pallarols family is carved by tradition, style and good taste. Warmed by the forge, the Pallarols have worked with noble metals to give birth to unequalled and most varied pieces of art.
The story begins in the old continent, most specifically in Barcelona in the XVIII century. Vicente Pallarols (1735-1810), started a lineage of silversmiths that would continue for more of two hundred years. Vicente devoted his life to the workshop and he brought up his first son, Rafael, among chisels and burins.
The tradition had started and it would be transmitted from generation to generation, from fathers to sons and from grandfathers to grandsons.
Rafael Pallarols, who was born in 1782, brought to America everything he had learnt from his father. He was eighteen when he arrived in Buenos Aires and he had already acquired the secrets of the art. At those times, Buenos Aires was in complete turmoil; he witnessed the british invasion and the separation of the spanish monarchy. He decided to come back to his homeland to work in his father’s workshop in Carretas street in Barcelona.
The saga continued with Vicente Pallarols and Sabaté (1832-1904), and adventurer silversmith. Another Pallarols crossed the ocean to find a new life in Buenos Aires, at those times ruled by Juan Manuel de Rosas. Buenos Aires meant inspiration for him and he carved pieces we can see today in the familiar museum. But Vicente also returned to his homeland. He fought in the Crimean War and then he went back to the familiar workshop.
There was, undoubtedly, a familiar tradition: coming to America. José Pallarols y Toras (1879-1951) was who finally settled down in Buenos Aires with his family. He started his own workshop in Nuñez, in Buenos Aires city. Only one year had passed and the most distinguished families were soon ordering his pieces.Among his customers were Isaac Fernandez Blanco and González Graño, well known art collectors at those times.
The Fernandez Blanco Spanish American Art Museum shows us today a silver “mate” carved by the one and only burin of Pallarols.
Carlos Pallarols Cuni, a wonderful drawers, not only expanded the familiar art but he also gave an artistic feature to the tradition. Together with his father and later with his sons, he would made pieces of an utmost historical relevance.
But the legacy reached its maximum splendor with Juan Carlos Pallarols. The family name was internationally known and it became a synonym of quality and style.
Curadores—Luciana Elli y Ezequiel Seoane
