Two faces of Portuguese ceramics: Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre

You’ll find a plate, a vase or a small figurine by Bordallo Pinheiro or Vista Alegre in almost every Portuguese home. These two brands belong to the same group, yet they speak about Portuguese culture in completely different ways.

Bordallo Pinheiro appeared in 1884 in Caldas da Rainha. Its founder, artist and caricaturist Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, saw ceramics as a way to talk about Portugal with a warm sense of irony. He created plates shaped like cabbage leaves, fish, fruit, rabbits and owls — and this cheerful madness is still produced by hand in the same factory. The brand’s current collection keeps the playful spirit of its founder, and although today Bordallo Pinheiro collaborates with various artists and designers, it stays true to its own look: bright colors and unmistakable natural forms.

Vista Alegre, on the other hand, has a different temperament — stylish and refined. The factory was founded in 1824 in Ílhavo, near Aveiro. Here they produce porcelain and crystal pieces, from dinner sets to collectible vases and sculptures. Vista Alegre works with fashion houses and designers including Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta and Marcel Wanders, and all production steps — molding, painting, gilding — are still done by hand.

Their flagship stores are easy to find:

• Bordallo Pinheiro — Lisbon, Rua da Escola Politécnica 117 (in the Príncipe Real area),
• Vista Alegre — Lisbon, Rua do Carmo 87, also in the city center, close to Joalharia do Carmo.

But the most fascinating place is the Vista Alegre museum and hotel in Ílhavo. The complex stands on the grounds of the old manufactory, right where the kilns and workshops operated in the 19th century. You can see antique porcelain and contemporary pieces from both brands. The factory still works nearby and can be visited on a guided tour, and the former palace of the owners now houses the boutique Vista Alegre hotel.

Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre are two curious poles of Portuguese ceramics. One stays close to tradition and natural motifs, the other gravitates toward art and contemporary design. Together they tell the story of the country — from a modest rural table to the luxurious sideboard of Cristiano Ronaldo, who became a co-owner and ambassador of both brands in 2024.