Portuguese ornamental arts are unmistakable.
On the one hand, because craft techniques have been preserved over the centuries; on the other, because, even in arts shared with other countries, Portugal has been able to develop its own imagination and create unique and identifiable pieces of national culture.
In general, Portuguese ornamental arts pay tribute to the themes that are most dear to the population, such as the sea, saudade, rurality and nature. Whether in embroidered fabrics or tableware, these themes are always present and often serve as a source of inspiration for contemporary designers and even the industry itself. In addition to this characteristic, the know-how of the master craftsmen is a seal of quality for these artistic manifestations. Let us look at the most well-known.
Ceramic production in Portugal pre-dates the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula (2nd century BC), although it was during this period that it experienced great development. With the Romans, craftsmen perfected techniques and shapes. Later, with the Arab occupation, they began to produce coloured pieces and apply enamel.
Let's not forget that the country also has ideal natural conditions for the production of ceramics; in particular, a raw material of great quality and variety. Did you know that the Portuguese Ceramics Industry was a pioneer in the European Union in the production of stoneware and earthenware for domestic use?
The reference to the industry is important because besides the specialist and highly qualified manufacturing techniques that characterise it, one of the factors that differentiates the national industry from others is the authenticity of its production, as many of the decorative motifs of the pieces produced are still painted by hand by master craftsmen.
Therefore, far beyond the utilitarian aspect, national ceramic pieces involve enormous technical work to ensure artistic and creative quality, which is why they are renowned at an international level.
Apart from industry, you will find many craftsmen in Portugal with their own workshops, studios or even small businesses. They keep this ornamental art alive with contemporary, authentic and genuine creations. In Caldas da Rainha, a ceramic city par excellence, you will find many of these.
Portuguese embroidery is one of the oldest ornamental arts in the country and dates back to the time of the voyages of discovery.
At the time, embroidery was a replica of pieces that arrived from afar by caravels. Then, each Portuguese region developed a unique style, to the point where, today, each area has a distinct embroidery identity.
We have, for example, Arraiolos embroidery (characterised by covering the whole fabric), embroidery from Castelo Branco, Guimarães (where sieve, Campilho stitch and full stitch embroidery stand out), São Miguel Island, in the Azores, Madeira, Nisa and Tibaldinho on the outskirts of Viseu. They all depict themes of love and life in the countryside (flowers, trees and forms of nature).
However, the most famous Portuguese embroidery styles are currently those of Viana do Castelo and Madeira. Lover's handkerchiefs, made by the women of Minho, with their strong colours (red, yellow, blue and green) and the love poems that the girls dedicated to the boys they fell in love with, are also very famous.
The Moors brought tile production to Portugal. But the global nature of the Portuguese nation went in search of innovation: through the trade routes to the Orient, Portuguese navigators took tiles with them and brought back the influence of the blue hue of Chinese porcelain.
The art of Portuguese tile-making therefore acquired a more monochrome tone and adopted non-repetitive motifs. The small, colourful tiles, all matching to create a pattern, have given way to large panels in which each element is unique and part of a larger motif all in a blue tone. So don't be surprised if you find tiles covering churches, palaces or house fronts.
Although other cultures have, over the centuries, influenced the art of Portuguese tile-making, the essentials remain intact to this day and it is one of the most cherished arts in Portuguese culture.
Filigree: the leitmotiv of Portuguese jewellery
The art of working gold into embroidery thread arrived in Portugal with the Romans, but, as with other arts, craftsmen quickly adjusted it to the themes that were dearest to them.
Over time, filigree production was concentrated, above all, in the north of the country, where it is still appreciated and considered a feature of local identification.
Portuguese filigree is world renowned for its inspiration in the forms of nature and other themes representative of the country's popular culture. Among the most famous pieces are the Coração de Viana (representative of the Sacred Heart of Jesus), the Rainha Earrings (originally designed for Queen Maria I in the 18th century), the Arrecadas (inspired by the crescent moon) and the Contas de Viana (inspired by Greek beads).
Portuguese furniture: hand in hand with design
Portuguese furniture reflects the country's expansionist history and has been influenced by other cultures (mainly European) over the centuries.
The history of Portuguese furniture is poorly documented and quite complex, but it does not only include antique hand-carved pieces. In fact, there is an inescapable item that we cannot fail to highlight, not least because it is an icon of Portuguese furniture design: the famous ADICO chair.
Created by a national entrepreneur at the end of the 19th century, the ADICO chair was designed for typical Portuguese esplanades with everything in mind: comfort, practicality and ease of manufacture. The result is a chair made with just two pieces (a turned tube and a bent plate), easy to stack and very comfortable. The quality is proven by its popularity: almost all Portuguese terraces have ADICO chairs.
Portuguese tapestry is the result of a wide range of international influences which, over several centuries, have been gaining ground on the traditional tapestry used in the Alentejo region.
Initially produced in small stitch and later evolving to the mural style, tapestry is another of the Portuguese ornamental arts that remains faithful to the theme of nature and rurality. Flowers, trees, vines, country scenes and animals always feature in national handicrafts.
Today it is impossible to talk about Portuguese tapestry without mentioning the famous Arraiolos rugs, which are still made by hand by dozens of craftsmen in the centre and south of the country.
