This week, I’d like to introduce Basque Pelota (Pelote Basque) and the Chistera.** It all started during a conversation with Liza Bergara, ( Makhilas)who told me about this unique skill—something we need to keep the game alive.
It was also a chance to visit a workshop and meet two generations of makers (Pierre and Bixente) in Anglet.
When I was a kid, I used to watch big chistera games during vacation in places like Bayonne, Ascain, or Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
A bit of music to start?
“Oh yeah!” — Laurent Bardainne & Tigre d’Eau Douce
Basque Pelota…
First, I talked with Lilou Etcheverria and René Hardoy (the president and secretary-general of the Basque Pelota Federation). They reminded me of the history of pelota—its different types of games.
Basque pelota comes from **jeu de paume** (a handball game) that different civilizations played.
You can find paume-style games among the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Aztecs. These games were especially popular in France. Paris once had more than 250 playing halls. Then the trend shifted under **Louis XIV**. In one of my earlier letters, I mentioned how much **King Henry IV** loved this game.
The sport is played on a **playing area called a cancha**. The ball is thrown—especially for the indirect games—against a wall called the **frontis**.
At the end of the letter, I include match videos that should give you a good idea of it.
Today, Basque pelota is mainly played in the **Southwest of France**, the **north of Spain**, and in Basque communities abroad (especially Argentina and the United States).
The players (**pélotaris**) wear white. Lilou Etcheverria told me that their outfit is a sign of respect for the crowd and for the other players.
…The Chistera Workshop: Chistera Gonzalez…
First, **chisteras** are gloves made mainly from **chestnut wood**, **woven reed (osier/wicker)**, and **leather**.
Originally, a chistera was a basket for collecting fruit. The word comes from the Basque term **xister**, meaning basket. The woven basket is attached to a leather part.
These gloves were invented in **1857** by **Jean Dithurbide** in **Saint-PĂ©e-sur-Nivelle**.
There are **two types** of gloves: the **small glove** (**Joko Gorbi**) and the **“big chistera,”** used for **Cesta Punta**.
The Chistera Gonzalez workshop uses several skills:
– **Cabinetmaking/woodcraft (Ă©bĂ©nisterie):** to build the chistera frame using chestnut rods.
– **Wicker weaving (vannerie):** to “fill the empty spaces” using reed strips, which are inserted between the chestnut rods.
– **Leatherworking (sellerie):** to make the leather part where the player puts their hand. The Gonzalez family uses leather from goats or cattle.
Finally, the chisteras are custom-made based on the player’s hand.
…Talented players…
In this letter, I also wanted to introduce talented players. Cesta punta was long a sport reserved for men. Now women can play, and today there are talented female players—especially **Marie and Aude Logier**, and **Romane Mercadier** from the Pamiers club.
Here are a few videos showing their talent:
– The Basque Pelota Federation website
– The Chistera Gonzalez website
The photos in this letter—on our Instagram and Facebook pages—are taken by me.
To learn more about this letter and its author, I invite you to visit our **“Lettres Carré Royal”** page.
If you liked this letter, please share it widely.
The intelligence of the hand we celebrate in these artisans is at the heart of our work as well-where every details serves structure, balance and longevity.
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