Abel Portilla

Campanas Hermanos Portilla

Bellfounder

The unique clang of tradition

Abel makes bells and bell sculptures in a heritage way
He once managed to cast a bell weighing 5,000 kg
His pieces are one-of-a-kind because he uses medieval making techniques

Abel Portilla began working as an artisan immediately after finishing school. He started learning bell making alongside his grandfather, Marcos Portilla Linares. “My job was to sweep the workshop and keep all the tools in their place, as well as kneading the clay so that everything was ready for him,” he recounts. Abel opened his own workshop in 1985 after a priest, Josep Martínez Roldán, encouraged him to do so and commissioned him to cast the bells for his village church. The very first clients of his new venture came by word of mouth. Abel is intent on preserving the traditional processes of bellfounding, relying on techniques and processes from the Middle Ages. “Working without gloves or gadgets gives the bells an even more artisanal character, as my fingerprints are left imprinted for eternity,” he says.

Interview

Has the area you come from influenced your work?: In the region of Trasmiera, where I was born, bells have been cast for centuries using traditional methods. I always believed that if was able to carry on this practice, the craft would survive. The few others who remained were making bells in an industrial way.
What distinguishes your work?: I make bells in the way they were made in medieval times, which means no two bells sound the same. Sticking to tradition is really important to me.
Who do you look to for inspiration?: The master bellmakers of the Middle Ages have a huge influence on me. They worked without haste and were not concerned with producing large quantities.
What secret does your profession hold?: With limited means, it is possible to create things that last for centuries. I have made bells for people all over the world. The most original place where I have been called to cast a bell is Papua New Guinea!

Abel Portilla is a master artisan: he began his career in 1972 and he started teaching in 1990