Ceramic plate with a Christmas motif - Bordallo Pinheiro

       The Bordallo Pinheiro company, originally known as Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas, was founded on June 30, 1884. Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro was responsible for the technical and artistic aspects, while his brother Feliciano Bordallo Pinheiro managed the organizational aspects of the factory.

       Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro is one of the most influential figures in 19th-century Portuguese culture, with an extraordinary body of work, particularly in humorous drawing, caricature, and ceramics creation. His work presents a disturbing, ever-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 significant 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 and even attended the Belas Artes school. Being an avid theater-goer, he began publishing humorous newspapers, some of which achieved great success. These newspapers became valuable documents for their artistic quality and interpretation of the political and social events of the time, as exemplified by the newspapers “Antonio Maria,” “Pontos nos ii,” and “A Paródia.” Raphael also pursued a unique architectural project for facilities that included an area for a ceramics school, where several related courses were taught. The factory and commercial warehouse were surrounded by a park with trees, two springs, two clay pits, and adorned with ceramics by Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro.

       In Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro's factory, hundreds of ceramic models of unparalleled creativity were produced, based on local traditions, particularly Caldas ceramics, taking fauna and flora as decorative inspiration. His ceramic production became renowned, especially for its artistic quality, both nationally and internationally. Bordallo, with remarkable boldness and critical insight, also modeled figures based on Portuguese daily life, and in his tiles, he created patterns with diverse influences as vast as the Renaissance, naturalism, Art Nouveau, and Spanish and Arab heritage.

       Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, with the help of his employees, created bold works, both in terms of size and delicacy of detail. The “Jarra Beethoven,” which exceeds 2.60 meters in height, is a symbol of the artist's enthusiasm and talent and is exhibited at the Museu das Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro. Twenty-one years of Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro's production (1884-1905) have been cemented in the history of Caldas ceramics. This was achieved not only through the vibrancy and extraordinary creativity of his ceramics but also through the high technical level attained, mainly in modeling and glazing.

       The life 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 work. After a severe crisis in 2008, the company was acquired by Grupo Visabeira, ensuring production and historical continuity. By adopting a modern and entrepreneurial approach, Bordallo Pinheiro plays a crucial role in revitalizing Portuguese ceramics and the artistic heritage of its factory, Fábrica de Faianças Artísticas, Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, both on the national and international stage.

       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, thanks to the excellence of execution and continuous discovery, both aesthetically and technically.

The utilitarian and decorative elements of the brand continue to fuel our collective imagination and elevate the prestige of Portuguese culture and industry a step further.