Porcelain cake stand on a large leg from the unique Cozinha Velha - Vista Alegre collection

The Vista Alegre factory was the first industrial unit dedicated to porcelain manufacturing in Portugal. The determination of its founder, José Ferreira Pinto Basto, contributed to the brand's enormous success worldwide. José Ferreira Pinto Basto began building the company by acquiring the Ermida farm, located near the city of Ílhavo, along the Aveiro stream, in 1812. In 1816, the entrepreneur purchased the Vista Alegre chapel at a public auction, along with the surrounding lands, where he later built the Vista Alegre factory.

That’s how it all started and it continues to this day. And what about the modern years?

In 1985, the company opened the Vista Alegre Art and Development Center (Centro de Arte e Desenvolvimento da Empresa - CADE) to encourage the creation of new works and decorations, as well as promote training in painting and sculpture. By the late 1980s, Vista Alegre’s works were showcased at major international exhibitions, such as the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Royal Palace of Milan, which significantly contributed to the global reputation of the brand.

In 1997, Vista Alegre’s operating income nearly doubled after merging with the Cerexport ceramic group. In May 2001, the merger of Vista Alegre Group and Atlantis Group brought back exclusive glassware and crystal to the company, resulting in the largest tableware group in Portugal and the sixth largest in the world in this sector, Vista Alegre Group (VAA Group).

In 2009, VAA Group became part of the Visabeira group portfolio, following a public takeover bid by the latter for a controlling stake in VAA. Currently, Vista Alegre is more than just an industrial unit. It is also part of Portuguese heritage, boasting buildings of undeniable architectural interest and serving as a repository of social and artistic memories essential to building Portuguese identity.

What can we find in Vista Alegre’s extensive product range?

The factory produces exclusive porcelain dinnerware, decorative items, gifts, hotelware, high-quality glass and crystal, and stainless steel cutlery 18/10. In addition to employing the latest manufacturing techniques, the porcelain factory also employs 17 hand painters responsible for decorating the produced items. Offering products in a wide range of styles, from classic to contemporary, the brand appeals to a broad audience of conscious consumers.

The modern heir to a long cultural tradition, Vista Alegre has embraced contemporary values, reflected in countless collections created by prestigious international designers such as Carsten Gollnick, Sam Baron, Karim Rashid, Joana Vasconcelos, Roberto Chichorro, Christian Lacroix, and many others.

What does the complex porcelain production process look like?

Porcelain can be produced through various processes, depending on the type of product and desired characteristics. Hollow items, such as teapots and coffee pots, are made in the ceramics area using a technique known as molding. Molding involves pouring liquid porcelain clay, also known as slip, into a plaster mold. The entire molding process depends on the plaster’s absorption capacity and the slip’s setting time remaining inside the mold. The mold is emptied once the clay layer reaches the desired thickness to remove excess slip. After drying, the piece can finally be removed from the mold. Complex items, such as sculptures, often need to be made as separate parts, which are then glued together. This technique requires significant experience and skill from the artisans involved to ensure the quality of the final product.

Flat elements, cups, and symmetrical components are produced through a special molding process in which pliable porcelain clay is placed inside a clay mold and pressed against its surface by a rotating metal head. In accordance with the Vista Alegre painting school tradition of producing works of the highest quality, hand painting is reserved for pieces of significant artistic and commercial value.

Relying on specialized, highly skilled artisans, Vista Alegre is one of the few ceramic manufacturers that offers a fully operational hand-painting workshop, where products are crafted in accordance with strict technical requirements. All painters employed by Vista Alegre possess in-depth knowledge of color palettes, proper painting techniques, and the preservation of materials during firing.

Visitors to the Production section can observe porcelain decoration techniques, most commonly used at Vista Alegre, and be fascinated by its exceptional works, limited editions, personalized orders, and items adorned with coats of arms.

Decorated elements must undergo the final firing stage in a muffle kiln, also known as a decorative oven, where the temperature does not exceed 860 °C.