Rafael Bordalo and the Domestic Furniture

Abstract

Rafael Bordalo  Pinheiro,  a  remarkable  humorist designer  and  ceramist, also  dedicated  himself  to  decoration  and  furniture  in  the  last decades  of  the nineteenth  century  and  the  beginning  of  the  twenty  century.  He made  ceramic furniture  highlighting  corbels,  the  luminaire  and  naturalistic  seats. Fashion of photographic portrait in the interiors lead him to model little frames. Unusually pattern tiles were used in the wood furniture in partnership with the woodcarver Leandro Braga and the cabinet maker Frederico Ribeiro. Although influenced by the British Arts and Crafts  Movement,  Bordalo  used  all  the  revivals,  including the national manuelino revival, without forgotten the oriental exoticism. He also tried  the Art  Nouveau, mainly in tiles. Bordalo’s room at the chalet de Cortiça (cork) and the Beau Sejour’s dining room are paradigmatic examples of “artistic interiors”.