Fernando Martins

THE ROOT
CRAFTSMAN

Fernando Martinswas born in the parish of Alte. He began to work as a carpenter at the age of 15 and this was the trade he stuck with until the crisis kicked in. Faced with a lack of work, he found an alternative in nature: “While walking through the countryside I spotted a beautiful root and pictured it as a table.” Because he was able to sell it as soon it was completed, he began to dedicate his time to craftsmanship. He now makes fruit baskets, cutlery, chopping boards, stools, tables… out of the trunks and roots of carob trees, olive trees, almond trees, loquat trees, holm oaks and walnut trees, taking advantage of tree clearing undertaken by his neighbours, which otherwise would lead them to being reduced to smoke and ashes when burnt.

Fernando Martins says that he is happy with his new life: “it gives me pleasure to look at a piece and imagine what it could become; nature has such beautiful things”.