19TH-CENTURY PORTUGUESE TUREEN — FAIENCE WITH POPULAR CHARM

Some pieces carry with them the old flavour of great Portuguese tables, lived-in homes, long meals and the simple beauty of an object made by hand. This 19th-century Portuguese tureen, in polychrome faience, is one of those pieces full of soul, presence and memory.

I am especially charmed by its octagonal shape, generous body, high lid with worked handle, and naïve, almost pictorial decoration with landscapes, trees, houses, water and small boats. The green, blue and brown tones, together with the floral details, give it a very Portuguese, popular and decorative expression, where each brushstroke seems to tell a small story of countryside, river and tradition.

The craquelure of the glaze, the marks of time and the natural imperfections of antique faience make this tureen even more special. They are signs of authenticity, use and life — precisely what distinguishes an antique piece from an object without memory. I see in it a frank, warm and highly decorative beauty, perfect for a table with character, a faience display cabinet or a composition of Portuguese antiques.

Polychrome Portuguese faience tureen, 19th century.