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History of the Crockery Factory of Viana

The production of clay objects for the most different purposes – bricks, tiles, vessels, utilitarian or decorative crockery – to which is given the name of pottery or ceramic is, probably the most antique industry practice by man.

The origin of Portuguese ceramic is so old that is not possible to fix a date. In it converges, naturally, influences of all the others.

In 1774, João Araújo Lima e Carlos Araújo Lemos, in association with João Gaspar do Rego e António Alves Pereira Lemos (book-keeper), were the founders of the so celebrated Crockery Factory of Viana, in the parish of Darque, of which we could see, in the latest years, a part of the edification in Cais Novo, near the Lima River.

Its expansion and development were led by the benefits consecrated in the royal charter of 7th November 1770 and to the proximity of Alvarães, from where came a very good argil compose for kaolin almost pure.

The existence of Regional Crockery of Viana can be described in four periods:

In these years of activity from experience to experience tries to state its own characteristics. These time of learning, has the sign and influence of stiles of models imported and of masters proceeded from other factories.

We can detach in this influence, the strip of the master "Rouen", who came from the Royal Factory of Rato, the monochromatic paint in blue vinous with Chinese vegetarian themes.

For the glazed necessary to the final touch had the factory its own mill, installed in 1775 and driven by the river Poupeira in locality of Arcos, in Meadela.

It is the greater epoch of the factory history, the most intense of labouring and diffusion of its products, pictorial creations of great originality and technical plenitude, of good enamel, refined draw and color, graceful shapes and perfect boiling.

"The paste is fine and durable, the enamel with a lacteal shade is brilliant and does not crack. The moulding, the exempted ornaments, and the outlines are executed with perfection and elegance in plates, basin, water-jar, lavabos, fonts, inkpots, candlesticks, cruet-stands and others. It was not made in any part of the country, faience that exceeded it."

It is detachable in this period the polychrome paint, with the employment of blue, yellow, green and vinous shades in unconfoundable graduations.

Period of industrial labouring with the purpose of facing the foreign ceramic concurrence. The Factory of Viana would end sacrificing the quality and beauty to satisfy the taste of mode, imitating the printed crockery, from the English factories.

From 1947 ahead, the Regional Crockery Factory of Viana starts to develop its artistic work in Meadela, where dozens of artists produce decoration pieces inspired in the themes and plastic procedures of the eight hundred century neoclassicism, as like original pieces of contemporaneous decoration and author pieces, that exports to different countries of the world.

The respective factory installations, were build up on the locality of Senhora da Ajuda, in Meadela, which along some period of labouring and in several attempts of verification of the matter fixed itself in "Fine Grès".

So, this factory has very special labouring characteristics which allow the application of a wealthy matter - comparing with the matter used previously – (faience) improving technically the methods of production.

Not removing the traditional intentions which led to the foundation of this ceramic, the "Regional Crockery of Viana" will continue to be produced, with the permanent searching for quality and style even alive in this region of Alto Minho.