Xàbia Municipal Archive receives a donation of raisin packaging stencils from the 19th century
They belonged to the family of Magdalena Marí Molina and were used to mark raisin exports to northern Europe.
Friday 7th July 2023
Mike Smith
The Municipal Archive of Xàbia has received a donation of a series of packaging stencils dating from the lucrative raisin industry that existed in the 19th century. The collection of 27 stencils were used to mark the packages of raisins that were exported from Xàbia to northern Europe.
The donation was made in person to the municipal archive in Carrer d’Avall by Magdalena Marí Molina this week in the presence of Bartolomé Bas, the municipal archivist Juanjo Mas, and the councillor for Culture, Mavi Pérez.
Bas explained that the stencils were used to mark the baskets and boxes that were used to export raisins from all over the Marina Alta region, including Xàbia, Dénia, Gata de Gorgos, Pedreguer, Ondara and even Oliva. Many of these packs were sent to England so many of the stencils are in English. In addition, there were categories of shipments, including “flor” (the highest quality) and “selecta” (a different type of grape).
Municipal archivist Juanjo Mas explained that three of the stencils have been donated to Penya L’Escalà for its museum in Carrer de la Mare de Déu d’Agost whilst a selection will also be exhibited in the Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Plaça dels Germans Segarra in the section dedicated to the raisin industry.
Councillor Mavi Pérez thanked Magdalena Marí for the donation and stressed that it is important to continue to maintain the traditions of the area, especially the raisin industry that was so important to Xàbia at the beginning of the 19th century.
