The Guanche Menceyes of Candelaria

The initiative to renew the old figures of the aboriginal chiefs, installed in 1963, already deteriorated by the effect of the erosion of the wind and saltpeter arises through the City Council of Candelaria, which, commissions Abad the realization of the new Menceyes Guanches in bronze.

This commission was a double professional challenge for Abad, since he accepted to develop a sculptural ensemble from the coordinates established by the promoter and, at the same time, he had to dive into the past to give the figures the physical appearance of the Guanche aborigines.

Abad travels to Italy to study classical sculpture. He also analyzes the Guanche mummies of the Archaeological Museum of Tenerife to learn about the body structure of the Guanches. In that space he also analyzes the remains of their material culture, to establish the ornaments of the figures with elements that are supposed to have been used by the aborigines, such as necklaces, seashells, sea shells, añepas or command sticks, bracelets and ribbons for hands and ankles.