HISTORY

In the street of the Ballesteries of Girona, Ramon Boix i Vila exercises his profession of crafstman in a workshop that has a family continuity of more than a hundred years. Fact that was recognized by the Chamber of Comerce, Industry and Navigation of Girona, on the 30th October 1991, like antique establishment of more than 100 years in the regions from Girona.

In effect, his grandfather Ramon Boix i Costa, tinsmith of Banyoles, was established in this street the year 1885. By then three generations of Boix have dedicated to craft activity of the bronze and the tin. First, the grandfather Ramon, afterwards his two sons Josep and Francesc, and now his grandson Ramon.

The grandfather, Ramon Boix i Costa, born in Banyoles the year 1860, of very small and for family tradition he decided to make the learning of tinsmith and learn the profession in several workshops of Banyoles. At 18 years already he figures as tinsmith in his personal cell.

The year 1885 he settles in the street of Ballesteries, no. 47 as a tinsmith. There is constancy that in year 1886 one made donation to collaborate in the parties of inauguration of the electricity in Girona.

His activity remains it makes evident in several bills of this stage, as well as in bills of purchase made to other industrialists. To mid in year 1914 they moved to the no. 17 of the same street where they are still placed.

Francesc Boix i Esparraguera wanted to follow the profession of his father, and this in his possibility he decided to make studyiing, until he decided learning of the profession in the house "Saratosa" of Girona and later in the house "Puig i Feliu" of Barcelona (factory of gas lamps), later beside his father in Girona he was followed the artisan tradition.

Francesc had a son, Ramon, who follows the bussines. After making the primary studies, at the thirteen years, going to learn the profession to the School of Professional Training of the School Group of Girona, afterwards at the School of Fine Arts and finally at the night School of Professional Training of the "Foment de Cultura" of Girona.

Therefore, Ramon Boix i Vila, grandson of the founder of the workshop and continuator of the artisan tradition married and with two daughters he continues in the street of the Ballesteries of Girona with the activity of bronze and tinsmith. Activity that he was for her recognized by the Generalitat de Catalunya with the appointment of "Crafstman Teacher" in year 1987.

Through the time the evolution in the manufacture of pieces has being evident, when in the first period of the grandfather Ramon were made measures, lights of oil, funnels, etc.. further on the lights of carburize arrived passing later on the electrics lights.

Very important period of the workshop was from the forties with the elaboration of candelabra, lamps, sacral, lecterns, etc. for the renewal of the churches.

Can Boix is in Girona a true institution, because her workshop, which preserves the structure and the flavor of the old workshops near of the rive, important pieces of the collective patrimony and elecments characteristics of the popular culture have come out: the Eagle of the city that acompanied the municipal consistory on solemn occasions, the fulfilled equipment of Manaies of the procession of the Holy Week or the ornaments and crows for the Giants and for the parade of the Three Kings. They are also work of Boix the equipment of the famous ones "Estaferms de Besalú", of the Noble Guard of the "Sant Sepulcre" (The Holy Sepulcher) of Girona, and the helmets of the roman soldiers of many Catalan towns. As a miniaturist, Boix carried out for Joaquim Pla i Dalmau more of five hundred pieces with a complete collection of military carriages.

All this, without forgetting the work of each day: lanterns, oil lamps, headrests, pieces of copper and brass, Ramon Boix has carried out it with only one worker that he was began as apprentice more than 30 years ago, and nowadays a great artisan.

Thanks to his teaching, two workers already find themselves today exercising the profession of their account. And he has still had time and illusion of participating actively in the life from Girona through the associations of the neighborhood of the city, and for creating and to drive initiatives so much promising how the Encounter of the Artisans, Brocanteurs and Antique Dealers of de 1st november, and being part of the commissions to organize the Samples of Crafstmanship of the Regions of Girona of years 1985 and 1986 to he joined the Official Chamber of Trade, Industry and Navigation of Girona and of the Fairground Institution.