Origin of the collection
The original focus of the collection was the traditional weights and measures of Mallorca – what was most at risk – followed by common Mallorcan ceramics. The rest of the collection was added later.
Background to the Etnogràfic Campos collection
The creation of this collection has not been accidental. Since childhood, the person who gathered and studied it has always shown a tendency to surround himself with older people. The Mallorcan generation prior to the tourism boom had experienced significant changes in their way of life, both materially and socially. Older people in the 70s and 80s of the 20th century did not reject technological advances, although they appreciated them; however, in many cases, they associated the objects that were part of their daily lives when they were young with a more peaceful and happy life.
If they had to mow by hand, they would gather in groups so they could sing and share both joys and sorrows; when they slaughtered a pig, they made a celebration of it; even the grape harvest for winemaking was carried out with joy, as if it were a celebration. Technology and the new rhythm of life altered all of this, and most of the objects, few and simple, that helped carry out those tasks, were forgotten and many disappeared. The worst part was not just their destruction but also the loss of the knowledge of how to use them.
Beginnings of the Etnogràfic Campos collection
These events described greatly intrigued the creator of this collection, who, from a very young age, never got tired of spending countless hours listening to this remarkable living memory shared by relatives, neighbours, elderly customers of the bar where he lived, etc.
Over the years, the author, who faced a challenging adolescence due to a hearing disability caused by an ototoxic medication, found himself isolated in a world and society that was not very understanding at the time, he found solace in observation and reading.
Miquel Ballester, as you can see in his biographical outline, dedicated himself from an early age to the study of architecture and traditional construction, as well as ethnography, fields that often go hand in hand; therefore, during his adolescence and early adulthood, he was content with avid reading on this subject and the related cultural associations.
By the time he was around 20, he became aware that the objects related to ethnography were at risk of disappearing or being scattered. This realization came from his experience curating several temporary ethnography exhibitions within the framework of cultural associations. When the exhibitions were dismantled and the borrowed objects returned, he felt saddened to see such important work—gathering, researching, and preserving these items—undone, leaving only photographic memories.
The original core of the collection consisted of traditional Mallorcan weights and measures – perhaps the most endangered aspect – followed by common Mallorcan ceramics. Over time, new themes and additional pieces were incorporated into the collection.
Origins of the pieces
The objects that make up the collection were obtained in different ways.
A small part is from family inheritance, as the collector’s father had gathered almost all the objects related to winemaking, due to his dedication in that field; several objects from everyday life were also obtained from both his mother’s and his father’s homes.
Another source of acquiring objects was through purchases made over more than 20 years, mainly at the antique market in Consell, as well as from various antique dealers on the island and some private individuals.
Another way in which he has enriched the collection, and for which he is extremely proud and grateful, has been through donations: Some were requested when it was known that a particular piece existed, others were offered at the beginning when Miquel’s hobbies were known, and others later when it was known that the collection would be opened to the public.
Before settling in its current permanent location, the collection underwent multiple relocations depending on when the objects were acquired. Some items were moved up to four times, a challenging process given the scale of the collection.
It has been possible to exhibit almost the entire collection, as many objects overlap between different sections. Others have been placed in storage due to repetition or poorer condition.
However, it is worth noting that the initial planning for the installation of the collection in the new and definitive building has been very complicated and difficult to distribute in the available space, despite the fact that it has a total of 1000 m2 of floor space, with 870 m2 of usable space distributed over three floors, not counting what has been used on the walls and some ceilings as an exhibition area.
