If there is a world reference in Portuguese decorative and tableware faience it is Bordallo Pinheiro. Who of us hasn’t seen the colourful and unique pieces with that ever so fresh, characteristic touch of everything that belongs to nature? But before we talk about national and international fame, we will tell you about a part of its history, which was made slowly. Needless to say, the brand is inextricably linked to the personality of its founder, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, one of the most important figures of 19th-Century Portuguese culture. A master of humoristic drawing and caricature, he had a fundamental eye on the political, social, cultural and ideological nature of an era.
He, who gained a taste for the arts early on, even went on to attend the School of Fine Arts. A theatre lover, he began writing chronicles and satires about the plays in humoristic newspapers, achieving great success. And in 1884, he took the other big step, starting his ceramic production at Fábrica de Faianças, in Caldas, with the aim of revitalising this traditional art, mixing it with new styles and cultural references. Above all else, it represented the extraordinary vision of Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro and his remarkable artistic momentum. Thus creations were born that endure to this day in our collective imagination. From tiles to panels, from pots to centrepieces, from bust jugs to washbasin fountains, continuing with jugs, plates, perfumers, large vases and giant animals etc. He also shone with popular figures such as Zé Povinho, Maria da Paciência, the Nanny of Caldas, the Policeman and the Priest. And with these he held exhibitions in several cities around the world.
Today the brand continues to demonstrate an inexhaustible capacity for renewal, maintaining a unique blend of creativity as an element of identity. Through its modern stance, Bordallo Pinheiro continues to play an essential role in the national and international revitalisation of Portuguese ceramics and the artistic heritage of the founder of the Fábrica de Faianças Artísticas (Factory of Artistic Faiences). For this reason, many prestigious personalities are invited to sign pieces. This happened with Nini Andrade Silva, who, like Bordallo Pinheiro, has brought the name of Portugal to the four corners of the world. Her private collection was built around a museum discourse that will allow a better understanding of the history and culture of Madeira Island, and its strong connection to the sea.
The brand’s utilitarian and decorative pieces thus continue to take the prestige of Portuguese culture and industry further and farther.
He, who gained a taste for the arts early on, even went on to attend the School of Fine Arts. A theatre lover, he began writing chronicles and satires about the plays in humoristic newspapers, achieving great success. And in 1884, he took the other big step, starting his ceramic production at Fábrica de Faianças, in Caldas, with the aim of revitalising this traditional art, mixing it with new styles and cultural references. Above all else, it represented the extraordinary vision of Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro and his remarkable artistic momentum. Thus creations were born that endure to this day in our collective imagination. From tiles to panels, from pots to centrepieces, from bust jugs to washbasin fountains, continuing with jugs, plates, perfumers, large vases and giant animals etc. He also shone with popular figures such as Zé Povinho, Maria da Paciência, the Nanny of Caldas, the Policeman and the Priest. And with these he held exhibitions in several cities around the world.
Today the brand continues to demonstrate an inexhaustible capacity for renewal, maintaining a unique blend of creativity as an element of identity. Through its modern stance, Bordallo Pinheiro continues to play an essential role in the national and international revitalisation of Portuguese ceramics and the artistic heritage of the founder of the Fábrica de Faianças Artísticas (Factory of Artistic Faiences). For this reason, many prestigious personalities are invited to sign pieces. This happened with Nini Andrade Silva, who, like Bordallo Pinheiro, has brought the name of Portugal to the four corners of the world. Her private collection was built around a museum discourse that will allow a better understanding of the history and culture of Madeira Island, and its strong connection to the sea.
The brand’s utilitarian and decorative pieces thus continue to take the prestige of Portuguese culture and industry further and farther.
