Maria Elisa and Palmira Soares Borges

The Valentes sisters shuttle

Maria Elisa and Palmira Soares Borges are sisters, born in 1943 and 1939, in the current parish of Termas of S. Vicente, where they live and work. The Valentes of S. Paio of Portela, as they are called, mastered the art of weaving since the age of eleven, first Palmira, then Maria. They learned to weave in the living room of the deceased neighbour, Joana, who «had a room full of looms and taught eight girls at the same time”, so they tell with nostalgia.
In the Valentes sisters workshop, we found a loom and shuttle offered by their Master Joana when Maria finished the course. In the shuttle’s wood, it is visible the numbers «191», a clue to what they think to be the date of its making, «1912».

The inseparable pair of weavers work in team: while Maria weaves the linen, cotton or tube yarn, Palmira is dedicated to the final arrangements. About the future of this craft, they share the desire of teaching the younger ones so that «this does not end».