Pottery and figures as traditional art: from regional to national

Abstract

In Portugal there are several centers producing decorative and utilitarian crockery, dedicated to the work of clay, translating our cultural and heritage identity through the materiality of objects and perpetuating the immateriality of the rituals of transformation, production and sale. At first, we observe the case of Barcelos, a city that sets up a clear example of this activity. The purpose of this article will be to review the past paradigms of this Art and focus on future goals.

In a second step, the article will focus on the importance of Pottery in a National Context - exposing a PhD Thesis proposal “Olaria: Identidade Portuguesa”, in which the main objective is to understand this production and how it constitutes a Cultural and Heritage Identity brand.

At this moment it is essential to find a place for handicraft and traditional practices, for their good dissemination and dynamism, valuing memory and the result of work and Portuguese Art.