Embroidery of Castelo Branco
poetry in silk and linen
In Castelo Branco, the embroidery using natural silk threads on linen, with its own unique designs, colours, and methods, transforms into genuine works of art rich with history and dedication. This meticulous craft, which employs around 50 different stitches, is one of the most expensive and time-demanding of Portugal’s manual productions.
With a needle, a thimble, scissors, linen stretched in a hoop, meticulous attention to the designs, and endless hours of work, the embroiderers of Castelo Branco create unique and refined products, where the threads never overlap. The pieces are marked by symbolic motifs such as the tree of life, hearts, birds, plants like carnations or peonies, and fruits like pomegranates or figs, arranged in harmonious and aesthetically pleasing patterns. In the quilts, the diversity and beauty of the motifs, as well as the quality of the borders, have always been fundamental in setting the prices, which today can exceed 20,000 euros.
With deep roots in Beira Baixa, the Embroidery of Castelo Branco dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It gained prominence in 1891 when King Carlos and Queen Amélia visited the city and were welcomed in a palace adorned with embroidered quilts. Quickly, the products that enchanted the queen gained great recognition. Over the years, the production of cheaper industrial textiles and a preference for other styles of decoration led to a decline in orders. In addition to the low demand for the pieces, the complexity and time required to produce a hand-embroidered quilt led many embroiderers to seek other forms of income.
During the 20th century, several initiatives attempted to revitalize this tradition, including the establishment of embroidery schools and workshops that produced pieces for national and international markets, as well as holding 26 exhibitions. Thus, the tradition survived. Since 2016, competitions and workshops have been held to encourage fashion design students to develop innovative pieces using this art. In 2017, the embroidery was certified and the Castelo Branco Embroidery Interpretation Centre was established. In 2023, Castelo Branco joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the category of Crafts and Folk Art, with Albicastrense embroidery.
Today, the Embroidery of Castelo Branco adorns panels, scarves, purses, and various clothing items, as well as being present in architectural symbols of the city and in decorative objects. With versatility and innovation, this art continues to extend to new forms of expression, ensuring its relevance to the contemporary artistic and cultural scene.
