Black Terracotta Decanter from Bisalhães

This jug is part of the porteries crafted by Jorge Ramalho, the last potter to use the ancestral technique of making black pottery from Bisalhães.

The uniqueness of this pottery resides in its color, which ranges from deep black to dark gray. This distinctive hue is achieved through natural firing in the open air, using a combination of wood, grass, and damp earth. Beyond being a mere object, this jug holds great significance as a cherished component of Portuguese heritage, now recognized and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage.

Why I love it

• A part of the Portuguese heritage recognized by UNESCO.
• A unique object and an ancestral technique.
• A functional decanter that maintains the temperature of the wine..

Characteristics

• Width: 5.9"
• Height: 9.1"

More informations ?

Black pottery is made in several stages. First, the clay is crushed with a wooden hammer in a stone vat before being sifted, added water, kneaded, shaped, smoothed with pebbles and decorated with a stick.

The firing is always done in the heart of the village of Bisalhães, in a community oven, built in the open air. The potteries are placed on the ground, covered with wet earth and herbs, and finally with wood that is set on fire.

The slow firing process gives the pottery its special appearance and also its solidity. Passed on almost exclusively through family ties, the future of this practice seems threatened today because of the disappearance of the holders of the know-how.