Figurado de Barcelos
toys that gained a soul
The first small clay figures from Barcelos, fundamental symbolic works of Portuguese culture, originated from the remnants of clay in potteries, in the tight spaces left in the kilns. These were toys created for entertainment, representing people and animals, often featuring a whistle or musical instruments such as bagpipes, ocarinas, nightingales, and cuckoos. Over time, the figurado (clay figurines) came to life, gaining significance and unique characteristics, evolving into an autonomous artistic activity capable of capturing, through art, the everyday, religious imagination, the fantastic world, and the legends of the Portuguese people.
The production of the figurado has ancient and imprecise roots. Its first reference dates back to the 16th century, with a possible mention by Friar Bartolomeu dos Mártires during the Council of Trent. By the mid-20th century, these figures became recognized and sought after by diverse audiences, thanks to the imaginative work of Rosa Ramalho, who blended the profane with the sacred in her creations.
By the late 1950s, the clay artefacts became even more valued and began to be signed by their creators, transforming into art objects. It was then that the old toys gained new stature and purpose. Pieces larger than 20 cm, hollow, made with new techniques and adapted to contemporary themes began to be created. The use of moulds or bases raised on potter's wheels became common. The painted and glazed pieces of the 19th century were replaced by others dipped in vivid colours of ceramic enamels and water-based acrylic paints.
Certified in 2008, the figurado de Barcelos stood out as the only ceramic art with certification in Portugal for a decade. In 2017, it was instrumental in Barcelos winning the title of UNESCO Creative City, in the Craftsmanship and Folk Art category. In 2021, the Minho dolls gained a new home on Rua de São Nicolau, in Lisbon: the first store dedicated solely to the figurado de Barcelos in Portugal, owned by the Valor do Tempo Group.
From the enchanted rooster and the lively musician to the monstrous animal with its tongue sticking out, the pieces of Barcelos craftsmanship have a life of their own, as they carry, besides the signatures, pieces of the souls of their artisans. These figures transport those who admire them to the fantastic world of Portuguese culture, full of colours and inspiration, where tradition is daily adorned with creativity and passion.
