Service’s Furniture: the Ourives Banks

Abstract

The  goldsmith  benches  we  will  discuss  in  this  article  were  used  through centuries and until mid-twentieth century and    were a piece of furniture used in the goldsmith workshops, serving as a support for the multiple tasks necessary to produce  gold  or  silver  ornaments.  The  structure  of  the  portuguese goldsmith’s benches  is  characterized  by  a  formal  simplicity,  the  use  of  local wood  and  other resources,  showing,  therefore,  a  very regional  character,  while  presenting  clean and archaic lines common to all workshops and regions. Their essence resided in the type of work for which they were created, the place for where they were built, but  also  in  the  link  with  the  physical  traits  of the  men  who  used  them  and  the way they performed their craft.