Step into the Sacavém Ceramic Museum a treasure trove of history. Before you stands Kiln 18 a majestic bottle kiln. It’s a time capsule from the 1940s. This incredible structure is the heart of the museum. Imagine the intense heat the workers endured inside.
The Sacavém Ceramic Museum wasn’t always a museum. It was once the Fbrica da Loiça a thriving ceramics factory. Founded in 1856 by Manuel Joaquim Afonso it quickly gained renown. Afonso however faced financial difficulties. He sold it to Englishman John Stott Howorth in the 1860s.
Howorth revolutionized the factory. He introduced new techniques from the UK. The factory flourished producing high-quality earthenware. King Luís I even awarded it the title of Royal Factory. King-consort Fernando II a friend of Howorth even painted ceramics there. After Howorth’s death in 1893 his wife continued the legacy. The factory’s success continued under James Gilman. At its peak it covered 70000 square meters. It became a major industrial player in Lisbon’s eastern industrial belt.
The Sacavém Ceramic Museum showcases the factory’s history. It highlights the factory’s social responsibility. The factory had a school a savings and loan scheme paid leave and holiday camps for workers’ children. Even during the Estado Novo era employees actively opposed the government.
Despite its success the factory faced financial challenges in the 1970s. Price controls inefficient investments and labor disputes led to its bankruptcy in 1994. The Loures council wisely decided to transform the site into a museum. The museum opened in 2000 preserving this important industrial heritage.
The Sacavém Ceramic Museum houses around 8000 pieces. These include tableware decorative pieces sanitary ware and more. You can see molds machines design drawings and pigments. The museum’s documentation center is a treasure for researchers. It documents Portugal’s industrial heritage.
This museum is more than just artifacts. It tells a story of innovation social progress and resilience. It’s a testament to the skilled artisans and workers of the Fbrica da Loiça. The Sacavém Ceramic Museum. A journey through time and artistry.