Mystery Surrounds Missing Historical Mosaic from Nivaria Print Shop
The Closing of Nivaria Print Shop
In September 2000, María de la Paz Hernández, the owner of the Nivaria print shop and stationery store, permanently closed a location on Imeldo Serís Street in Santa Cruz de Tenerife that had been in operation since the 1930s. The building housing the print shop was demolished, but Hernández salvaged the distinctive ceramic mosaic that adorned its entrance. This mosaic comprised three panels made from 15 by 15-centimetre pieces. The upper panel measured 75 centimetres by 3.90 metres and displayed the company name, while the other two flanked the door, each measuring 2.40 by 1.15 metres.
A Piece of History
The mosaic, nearly a century old, was commissioned in 1934 from the company Valencia Artística e Industrial, founded by Juan Bautista Molins, by Pedro Hernández, father of María de la Paz. Its designs, crafted using the cuerda seca technique, featured bottles of Samas ink alongside the store’s signage. This technique is characterised by the use of cord lines to outline the drawn silhouettes, allowing for painting each section independently, thus creating a unique relief effect on the ceramic. Such ceramic signwork became popular among Spanish businesses from the late 19th century throughout the 20th. Other notable examples in Santa Cruz include the ceramics from the old Ayala drugstore on Castillo Street.
Transfer to the City Council
On the 28th of that month, Hernández signed an agreement with then-mayor Miguel Zerolo for the transfer of the mosaic to the city council for restoration and subsequent display as a picturesque and cultural emblem of the city.
Family’s Displeasure
Five years later, in February 2005, the Hernández family publicly expressed their frustration in an article published by La Opinión de Tenerife due to their lack of knowledge regarding the mosaic’s whereabouts or its management status.
25 Years Missing
Now, 25 years have passed since the transfer, and the mosaic remains completely missing, with no record of the transfer agreement. This was confirmed by the Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife in response to an information request by the association dedicated to the protection of graphic heritage in the Canaries, Ínsula Signa. Jaime Medina, president of the association, explained to Atlántico Hoy that they had requested this information months prior and recently received responses through two reports, one from the Autonomous Organisation of Culture and the other from the Heritage Management Office.
The Reports
The first report confirmed that the Autonomous Organisation of Culture (OAC) has no information on the transfer, location, inventory, or current status of the mosaic, nor any records pertaining to it or its assignment to this body for management. Additionally, it was noted that there is no record of it being a protected element under the current cultural heritage laws. The second report, however, revealed that while Heritage acknowledged registering the mosaic, it now states that they do not have it in their facilities and there is no record of its exit.
A Possible Lead
Given these circumstances, where is the mosaic, which Jaime Medina describes as having “inestimable value for being a historic and artistic asset linked to the commerce of Santa Cruz”? There are no certainties, but Ínsula Signa holds on to a possible lead. Medina explained that the association has been in contact with María de la Paz Hernández, who supports their goal of locating the ceramic piece and recalls that former mayor Zerolo had mentioned to her that the piece would be stored in the Ireneo building in Santa Cruz.
The Ireneo Building
The Ireneo building, formerly the School of Applied Arts, has most recently been used by the Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz as a storage area while it awaits planned renovation. Since 2017, the building has been promised rehabilitation, which was awarded to a consortium a year later, yet the project has since stalled.
Potential Legal Action
If it is confirmed that the mosaic is indeed located there, the association Ínsula Signa has stated that they will take legal action against the Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife to seek the restitution of the piece to its original owner, contending that the local authority has failed to uphold its contractual obligations regarding its conservation and exhibition. “It is negligence,” asserts Jaime Medina.
