Avant-garde ceramic decoration for the home - Bordallo Pinheiro

       The Bordallo Pinheiro Manufactory, originally established as the Caldas Faience Factory, was founded on June 30, 1884. Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro was responsible for the technical and artistic aspects, while his brother Feliciano Bordallo Pinheiro handled the factory’s organizational matters.

Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro is one of the most influential figures of nineteenth-century Portuguese culture, renowned for his extraordinary creativity, especially in humorous drawing, caricature, and ceramics. His work depicts a disturbing, always relevant reality and serves as a fundamental document for political, social, cultural, and ideological studies of the period. Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro will forever be closely associated with caricature and artistic ceramics, showcasing quality and very important works never seen before, which, in the opinion of renowned contemporary artists, are the work of a genius.

From a young age, he was interested in art, even attending the Belas Artes school. As an avid theatergoer, he began publishing humorous newspapers, some of which achieved great success. These newspapers became valuable documents for their artistic quality and interpretation of current political and social events, exemplified by publications such as “Antonio Maria,” “Pontos nos ii,” and “A Paródia.” Rafael also followed a unique architectural project for the facilities, which included an area for a ceramic school where several related courses were taught. The factory and trading warehouse were surrounded by a park with trees, two springs, two clay pits, and decorated with ceramics by Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro.

At Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro’s factory, hundreds of ceramic models of unparalleled creativity were produced, based on local traditions, especially Caldasan ceramics, taking fauna and flora as decorative inspiration. His ceramic production became renowned, particularly for its artistic quality, both nationally and internationally. Bordallo boldly and critically modeled figures based on Portuguese everyday life, and in his tiles, he created patterns influenced by a wide range of styles, including Renaissance, Naturalism, Art Nouveau, as well as Spanish and Arab heritage.

With the help of his workers, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro created bold works, both in size and in delicate detail. The “Beethoven Jar,” over 2.60 meters tall, is a symbol of the artist’s enthusiasm and talent and is exhibited at the Museu das Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro. The twenty-one years of production by Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro (1884-1905) have been immortalized in the history of Caldas ceramics. This success was achieved not only thanks to the vibrancy and immense creativity of his ceramics but also due to the high technical standards attained, especially in modeling and glazing.

The lifelong mission of Manuel Gustavo Bordallo Pinheiro was to preserve the memory of his father, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro. Continuing his father’s work maintained this ceramic tradition. After Manuel Gustavo’s death in 1920, a group of prominent people from Caldas, along with workers, continued the company’s operations. Following a serious crisis in 2008, the company was acquired by Grupo Visabeira, ensuring continuity in production and heritage. Adopting a modern and entrepreneurial approach, Bordallo Pinheiro plays a key role in revitalizing Portuguese ceramics and the artistic heritage of its factory, Fábrica de Faianças Artísticas, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, both nationally and internationally.

Bordallo Pinheiro remains faithful to tradition by employing ancient manufacturing techniques and naturalistic motifs that underpin the brand’s magnificent design. At the same time, it gives its lines a contemporary dimension through impeccable craftsmanship and ongoing exploration, both aesthetically and technically.

The brand’s utilitarian and decorative elements continue to inspire our collective imagination and elevate the prestige of Portuguese culture and industry to new heights.