Makila
The traditional Basque walking stick
The makila is the walking stick of the Basques, used either as a travelling companion or as a symbol of authority and respect.
The makila is much more than a traditional Basque walking stick; it is a work of Basque craftsmanship loaded with history, symbolism and mastery, made entirely by hand, its manufacturing process can take between 5 and 10 years, respecting an ancestral tradition that has remained intact for centuries.
The manufacturing process begins in the forest, where small incisions are made in wild loquat branches. These marks guide the flow of the sap and create the natural reliefs that characterize the unique aesthetics of each makila. After being cut in winter, the wood undergoes a careful process: it is debarked in the kiln, stained with quicklime and straightened by applying heat. Drying, which can take up to a decade, requires periodic adjustments to ensure a perfectly straight shape.
Once ready, the lower part of the rod is covered with a handmade ferrule of brass, alpaca or silver, finely chiseled with traditional Basque motifs. The upper part is crowned with a horn handle, assembled on a threaded tube and covered with hand-braided leather. In the case of the makila of honor, the hilt is made entirely of silver or nickel silver, enhancing its symbolic value.
The makila is offered as a symbol of respect and recognition. It is a traditional gift at significant moments such as retirements, weddings, birthdays, or as a corporate gift. Giving a makila as a gift is a way of honoring a person for his or her trajectory or for his or her link to Basque culture.
Although deeply rooted in the people, the Basque makila has crossed borders, being given to illustrious figures such as kings, popes, political leaders, artists and sportsmen. This handcrafted Basque walking stick represents a living legacy that combines functionality, identity and elegance.
Partes de la makila
The knob
The knob, made of horn. In the past, ox horn was used for this purpose.
The upper bushing
A cap holds the leather handle, while pressing on the knob. It is on this cap that dedications and sentences are engraved, according to the taste of each recipient or customer.
The handle
The handle is a tube covered with kid skin. After making several strips of kid skin, the artisan braids them to cover the tube. However, the makila de honor has a handle made entirely of silver or nickel silver.
The tip
The tip is hidden under the handle. Usually made of stainless steel.
The bushing
Another cap is usually placed on the lower part of the makila. On it, the craftsman has engraved typical motifs of the Basque Graffiti.
Wood
Loquat wood is often decorated with special shapes. The loquat is the only tree that, by healing the wounds previously made by the craftsman, decorates its skin creating original reliefs. For this reason, it is the most appropriate for making the makila.
The toe cap
The toe of the makila that touches the ground is usually made of steel.
Phrases of the makila
In the upper cap of the makila a space is reserved for each customer to order the artisan to engrave the phrase they want, usually short dedications using words with great meaning. Some have already become typical and others stand out for their originality. These are some of the phrases that can be read on the makilas:
Hitza hitz
– The word is the word
Hitzemana zor
– As promised
Ihes etsaiak
– Run away enemies
Nerekin beti zuzen
– Always straight with me
Nere bideko laguna
– My companion on the way
Nerekin inoren beldur
– With me there is no fear of anyone
Nere laguna eta laguntza
– My partner and help
