Unearthed

In a country known for its lively azulejos (tiles) and clay crafts, local studio pottery in Portugal has remained practically unknown, yet throughout the last century a considerable number of potters and visual artists — from Portugal as well as Germany, Hungary, Brazil, and Mozambique, among other countries — have created an original corpus of work. Based on what is probably the most comprehensive collection of local ceramic art, this publication discusses with greater detail thirty potters’ work and is illustrated with over 300 ceramics. It covers the entire twentieth century but gives particular emphasis to the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a boom in interest for the discipline and when both state and private patrons commissioned significant artworks.

The various artists, along with their working methods, origins, and backgrounds, are discussed in length, as well as their activities and the influence of manufactories. This is the first seminal study of such an eclectic production, aiming to become a standard reference for the general public, collectors, museum curators, and all those interested in the sheer joy of ceramics and Portuguese cultural history.