A Social History of Porcelain and Faience in Portugal During the Early Modern Age - Paperback

by Gustavo Portocarrero (Author)

This book explores the social history of porcelain and tin-glazed earthenware in Portugal between c. 1300 and 1770. Drawing on archaeological evidence, documentary sources and the study of iconography, it moves beyond traditional typological approaches to examine how ceramics participated in the construction of identities and social relationships.

From the first glazed wares imported into medieval Portuguese cities to the widespread consumption of faience and Chinese porcelain in the Early Modern Age, ceramics are analysed as active agents in processes of distinction, religious expression, gender formation, social mobility and political power. Particular attention is given to the role of consumption in shaping urban, religious, national and class identities, as well as to the impact of the Civilising Process on changing habits of dining, hygiene and sociability.

By integrating archaeology, history and art history, this study offers the first comprehensive interpretation of the social meanings of porcelain and faience in Portuguese society across nearly five centuries.