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.
Beyond its role as a Basque walking stick, the makila is a powerful symbol of respect and recognition. It is a meaningful gift for special occasions such as retirements, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, or institutional and corporate events. Offering a handcrafted makila means honoring someone for their achievements, commitment, or connection to Basque culture.
Deeply rooted in its homeland, the Basque makila has also crossed borders. Throughout history, it has been presented to kings, popes, political leaders, artists, and athletes, becoming an emblem of international prestige. This handcrafted Basque staff, made of noble medlar wood and decorated with ancestral techniques, represents a living legacy that combines functionality, identity, and elegance.
How is the handmade Makila crafted?
Once ready, the staff is adorned at its base with an artisan ferrule, made of brass, nickel silver, or sterling silver, finely engraved with traditional Basque motifs. The upper part is crowned with a horn handle, mounted on a threaded tube and wrapped in hand-braided leather. In the case of the makila of honor, the handle is made entirely of silver or nickel silver, highlighting its symbolic and ceremonial value.
The makila manufacturing process begins in the forest, with branches of wild medlar wood, carefully incised to guide the sap and create the natural reliefs that give each Basque makila its unique aesthetic. After being cut in winter, the wood undergoes a meticulous treatment: it is kiln-barked, dyed with quicklime, and straightened with heat. The drying process can take up to a decade, requiring periodic adjustments to ensure each staff remains perfectly straight.
How Medlar wood is marked for making Makilas
The authentic Basque makila is crafted exclusively from European medlar wood (Mespilus germanica), a slow-growing tree whose wood is exceptionally dense and hard, yet remarkably flexible[cite: 1]. Its most distinctive feature is the natural relief on its surface—a unique and unrepeatable design in the world achieved through a meticulous artisanal process governed by nature:
- Scarification or Tattooing (Spring): The artisan carves precise incisions directly into the tree’s living branches. As it heals naturally, the medlar tree creates the characteristic raised pattern of the makila.>
- Harvesting and Barking (Winter): Branches are harvested following traditional lunar cycles and placed in high-temperature ovens to peel the bark by hand cleanly.
- Straightening and Curing (6 to 10 years): The wood undergoes alternate cycles of controlled heat, pressure, and resting every two years to ensure indestructible straightness and structural strength.
Each piece retains the soul of the Basque landscape. Discover the complete step-by-step process in our specialized article on the secrets of medlar wood for makila making.
Parts of the 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 of 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
Medlar wood is often decorated with special shapes. The medlar 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.
Alberdi Makilas at the Basque Museum of Bilbao
In 1984, Iñaki Alberdi crafted three makilas in our workshop that, decades later, have found their place in history. Following the recent reopening of the Basque Museum of Bilbao, these three pieces are now part of its permanent exhibition, in the room dedicated to Basque Political Identity, alongside a fragment of the original trunk of the Tree of Gernika.
This is no ordinary location: beneath that very tree, a symbol of Basque liberties, the Lehendakari receives the makila upon taking the oath of office, representing authority in service of the people. Sharing space with this symbol confirms the makila’s role as one of the most recognizable emblems of Basque culture and identity.
If you visit the museum, you will be able to see these three handcrafted makilas up close—a testament to a craft that we at Alberdi continue to pass down from generation to generation.
