Bordallo China Outlet: Low Cost Tradition

All reasons are good to go to Caldas da Rainha: the park, the local sweets cavacas, the museum, the gastronomy, everything. After lunch take a walk up the street to the Factory, and then load 20 kg of good purchases.

Out of the bustling imagination of Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, this pottery has its formal roots not only in the work of the illustrious artist, but also in the Art Nouveau that was, at time spreading around the world, and which Raphael transposed, through a popular and picturesque sieve, for a national taste, mostly without overly refined pretensions.

Glazed ceramic bowl, with relief, just 1 euro, believe it or not.

 

Because what we are talking here is not fine porcelain for the noble tables, this is the decorative or utilitarian day-to-day old time crockery, which has returned to fashion both for the vintage taste that the modanti proclaim, as for the nationalist revivalisms against the globalized current.

Cake stand, from Couve (Cabage) collection, in new white colour.

 

The brand can be bought in two corners of El Corte Ingles, Lisbon and Porto, or in the approximately Vista Alegre 30 stores throughout the country - in 2009, after having bought Vista Alegre, the group Visabeira also acquired Bordallo Pinheiro. Therefore, at stores, the work of Raphael has to dispute presences with all the rest Vista Alegre porcelain and with Atlantis crystal.

The Bordallo Pinheiro Factory, in Caldas da Rainha, where you can find the factory outlet.

 

But at the Factory, in Caldas da Rainha, there is a large space where Bordallo Pinheiro reigns alone. Not only not less beautiful utilitarian crockery, but above all, the fancy style that makes us fall in love with the brand: irresistible colour jars decorated with lizards or the so traditional Bordallo frogs, furious monkeys at the end of a rope, or platters decorated with dragonflies that whisper Lalique.

Platter, from Couve (Cabage) collection, in the new white colour.

 

But not only, Bordallo factory did not froze in time and constantly update formats and decorations, always at seductive prices. And if you go to the end of the store and climb a small ladder, then you will find the paradise of grab-and-go shopping: "an outlet where you can have access to products that are only there" tells us Nuno Barra, director of marketing and product design.

 

And not for the reason that would be expected, like defects or imperfections, but because they are of previous ranges, but never out of fashion.

Covered Cheese Plate, from Couve (Cabage) collection, in the new white colour.

 

As a matter of personal taste, the photographs of the products that illustrate this article are all white editions: here at home that's what's rolling, this semester we're all modern and hipster ... But spend a few minutes on the brand's website, and see how the use of colour was half the success of master Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, and why so many people around the world buy it. But do not forget, it's our secret, to buy low-cost, go to lunch at Caldas and then take a walk to the factory.

Glazed dessert plate, with relief, just a couple of euros, on the outlet upstairs.

 

Caldas da Rainha is 20 minutes or an hour and a half away, depending on the car and the foot weight. For me, Caldas is a storybook away, such is the pleasure of going there.

 

Rua Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro nº53

2500-246 Caldas da Rainha

T: 262 880 568

Opening photo by