English
Português
Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro is one of the most influential people of nineteenth century Portuguese culture, with a remarkable production particularly regarding the areas of humoristic drawing, caricature and ceramic creation. His work represents an unsettling, ever timely reality and a fundamental document for political, social, cultural and ideological study of a time period.
Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro is one of the most influential people of nineteenth century Portuguese culture, with a remarkable production particularly regarding the areas of humoristic drawing, caricature and ceramic creation. His work represents an unsettling, ever timely reality and a fundamental document for political, social, cultural and ideological study of a time period.
Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas was established in June 30, 1884. Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro was responsible for the technical and artistic aspects and his brother Feliciano Bordallo Pinheiro was in charge of the organizational aspects of the factory. Raphael also followed the unique architectural design of the facilities which included an area for a ceramic school, where several related courses were taught. The factory and the sales warehouse were surrounded by a park with trees, two springs, two clay pits and it was decorated with Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro’s own ceramic pieces. At Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro’s factory were created hundreds of ceramic models of unparalleled creativity, based on local traditions particularly Caldas’ pottery, adopting the fauna and flora as decorative inspiration. His ceramic production became well known, especially for its artistic quality, both at a national and international level. Bordallo modelled, as well, characters based on the Portuguese everyday life with remarkable boldness and critical sense, and in his tiles he created patterns with diverse influences as vast as Renaissance, Naturalism, Art Nouveau and the Spanish and Arab legacy. Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro with the help of his workers produced bold pieces, either by their size or by the delicacy of the details. The "Jarra Beethoven", which exceeds 2.60m in height, is a symbol of exuberance and talent of the artist, and it is exhibited in the Museu das Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro. The twenty-one years of Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro (1884-1905) production became immortalized in the history of Caldas’ ceramics. This was achieved not only by the exuberance and creativity of his ceramic pieces, but also by the high technical level achieved, mainly regarding modelling and glazing. Manuel Gustavo Bordallo Pinheiro’s mission in life was to protect the memory of his father, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro. Continuing his father’s work kept this ceramic tradition alive. After the death of Manuel Gustavo in 1920, a group of distinguished people from Caldas, together with the workers, continued the company’s work. After the serious crisis of 2008, the company was purchased by Grupo Visabeira which ensures a productive and historical continuity.
