Ceramic And Tiling Core

Ceramic is one of the oldest materials used by man, becoming for centuries a material of predilection for domestic use, becoming later a material of choice in architectural coating, becoming popular in the use of the tile, either on the floor or on the ceiling, and later on the walls.

In the Iberian Peninsula, tile art became popular in Andalusia from the 13th century, thanks to the Arabs, who were adept at this technique of ornamentation. In Portugal, tile was used between the late 15th / first half of the 16th century, although preserved and adapted, arising from this adaptation of the Hispano-Moorish style.

In the Azores, between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, the tile was imported from different national and international zones, but only from the 19th century began to produce tiles on the island of São Miguel, thanks to the foundation of several ceramic factories, namely In the municipality of Lagoa, becoming a reference in the production of ceramics.

It is worth mentioning the Fábrica Cerâmica Vieira, ex-libbris of the city of Lagoa, founded in 1862, in which its founders were: Bernardino da Silva, native of Coimbrões, parish of Santa Marinha, municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia; Manuel Leite Pereira, born in Peso da Régua; Tomáz d'Avila Boim, native of the island of Pico; And Manuel Joaquim d'Amaral, native of Povoação. This factory is one of the few industrial and artistic assets that have survived over five family generations, and is currently the only glazed ceramic factory in the Azores Archipelago, which manufactures all of its dishes in its facilities. Its production continues to be handmade, from the molding on the old potter's wheel to manual painting, with a very characteristic decoration where the blue and white predominates, being commonly known as "Louça da Lagoa".

In the religious patrimony of the parish of Santa Cruz, there are two magnificent buildings of religious character - hermitages - with examples of tiles.

In order to elevate the Lagoa as a ceramic earth, and seeing that behind the altarpiece of the main altar of this church are some tiles covering the footer, suspecting that the tiles are from left over from the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Cape, as well as a few examples of the hydraulic tijoleira that covers the collateral Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, it was strictly necessary to make a reference.

In addition to the ceramic tiles, and in addition to the fact that there is equipment ceramics, since this space is seen in most churches as an extension of the sacristy, to storage or support the liturgical ceremonies, was created the Ceramic and Tiling Core where some twenty-five pieces are glimpsed.