Have a great weekend! The well-deserved rest has finally arrived, and so has our new article!
In this week's article, we will talk about "Portuguese Ceramics," a very important element of our culture.
History
It is impossible to know when and where this ancient art began, as there are examples found in places as disparate as indigenous tribes in Brazil, mountains in Japan, monuments in Egypt, or in the desert in Israel. The presence of this art is notable all over the globe.
Ceramics are, in a few words, clay shaped with water, leaving the final object a brown color, and then a glazed finish is applied. But, of course, it hasn't always been this way in Portugal.
Although used as vases and pots, ceramics as we know them began to arrive in Portugal from Spain, influenced by the Arab presence on the Iberian Peninsula. Tiles (whose name comes from al zulej, “slippery and shiny stone” in Arabic) adorned with Arab geometric patterns and more neutral colors began to be used, which were only altered in the 16th century with the creation of metallic glazes. At that moment, colors and more delicate, drawn, and ornamental paintings on porcelain and faience expanded. But it was only after the 17th century, when Portuguese navigators returned from China bringing blue and white painted porcelain, that the traditional colors of today became part of Portuguese culture, both in tiles and in faience and porcelain — which were initially only accessible to the nobility. It was also around this time — the Baroque period — that the custom of depicting images, battle scenes, and stories in tiles emerged, forming true panels. In palaces, the use began to be common, but it is mainly in churches and convents that tiles became immortalized.
The era of the Marquis of Pombal was responsible for the mass production of tiles in Lisbon for a very utilitarian reason: after the earthquake of 1755, something cheap, durable, practical, and beautiful was needed. Staircases and buildings were then covered on the outside. The customs spread to churches and houses, starting from the economic recovery of 1840. More than just beautifying interiors and exteriors, tiles are now a hallmark of Portuguese identity.
The main brands of Portuguese ceramics are tiles and tableware.
Some Renowned Artists
The pioneer who took on the painting of Portuguese tiles was the Spaniard Gabriel del Barco, active in Portugal in the late 17th century. In the 18th century, there was a rise of artists from the acclaimed Masters' Cycle, marking a golden period for Portuguese tile art. Notable names include Nicolau de Freitas, Teotónio dos Santos, and Valentim de Almeida. In the 20th century, in Porto, the painter Júlio Resende created figurative compositions in tiles and ceramic plates starting in 1958, reaching the peak of his work with Ribeira Negra in 1985. It is during this time (20th century) that artists Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and Jorge Barradas emerged, driving renewal in the field of ceramics and tiles. Also in the mid-century, Maria Keil did remarkable work for the initial metro stations in Lisbon, joining Júlio Resende, Júlio Pomar, Sã Nogueira, Carlos Botelho, João Abel Manta, Eduardo Nery, among others, as great references in the history and culture of Portuguese tiles.
In the Present Day
The tile has 500 years of national production, having been used to cover thousands of facades, produced by factories in Lisbon and the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, such as Massarelos and the Devesas Ceramic Factory.
In the North, pronounced reliefs, volume, and the contrast of light and shadow are present characteristics. In Lisbon, the preference has been for smooth patterns of ancient memory and a conspicuous exterior application on facades.
Some locations where you can observe Portuguese tiles:
São Bento Station, Porto;
Church of Santo Ildefonso, Porto;
Church of Congregados, Porto;
Chapel of Souls, Porto;
Church of Our Lady of Remedies, Lamego;
Convent of Santa Cruz do Buçaco, Buçaco;
Convent of Christ, Tomar;
Church of São Quintino, Sobral de Monte Agraço;
Quinta da Bacalhoa, Lisbon;
Chapel of São Roque, Lisbon;
Convent of Graça, Lisbon;
Convent of São Vicente de Fora, Lisbon;
Palace of the Marquises of Fronteira, Lisbon;
National Palace of Queluz, Lisbon;
House of Ferreira das Tabuletas, Lisbon;
Palace of Mitra, Azeitão.
If you are still interested in Portuguese Ceramics, you can visit the National Tile Museum, established in 1980, where you can learn more about Portugal and its culture through Ceramics.
Hours of the National Tile Museum:
Starting May 1, 2021:
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Last entry at 5:30 PM.
Closes for lunch between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
Thank you for reading our article to the end, we hope you found it interesting, and don't forget to visit our online store at www.produtosportugueses.pt, where you can find all kinds of high-quality products, produced entirely in Portuguese territory! We currently have an active promotion, and new products on the way!
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