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Vessels and forms

The working shapes of Portuguese pottery, named the way potters name them: alguidar, cântaro, caçoila and the rest.

A wide red earthenware basin on a scrubbed kitchen table — 001Alguidar (wide basin) A container wider than it is tall, with a mouth much broader than its base. The name comes from the Arabic al-gidar, "large bowl".

Two-handled red clay jar beside a stone village fountain — 002Cântaro (water jar) A large, round-bellied vessel with a handle, for carrying liquids. It appears in the Portuguese expression "chover a cântaros" (to rain buckets).

A single-handled clay water pitcher on a shaded windowsill — 003Bilha (water pitcher) A round-bellied vessel, usually of clay, with a short, narrow neck, used to carry and keep water.

Small clay cups on a taverna counter — 004Púcaro (drinking cup) A small vessel with a handle, for drinking water or ladling liquid out of larger vessels. In some uses the word also means a clay cooking pot.

Large clay wine jars lined up in a cool Alentejo cellar — 005Talha (large storage jar) A vessel, usually of clay, with a narrow mouth and a large belly, for storing oil, wine or grain. In the Alentejo, talha wine is still made, a process listed in Portugal's national intangible heritage inventory.

A round clay pot simmering on a hearth — 006Pote (cooking and storage pot) A large clay vessel, which the dictionary describes as ordinarily meant to hold water. Form and use vary from region to region. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A glazed earthenware pot with a lid on a kitchen stove — 007Clay cooking pot (panela de barro) A clay pot for cooking over a fire, usually glazed inside. It is valued for slow cooking. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A glazed clay baking dish with a crusty baked dish — 008Caçoila (baking dish) A container, usually of clay or metal, wider than it is tall, for cooking food. The dictionary gives caçarola (casserole) as a synonym.

A broad clay pot on a trivet in a village kitchen — 009Tacho (shallow cooking pot) A cylindrical cooking pot, wider than it is tall, with handles. It is usually metal, but the dictionary also records a clay version.

A clay roasting dish with a roast in a wood-fired oven — 010Assador (roasting dish) A container for roasting food, a synonym of assadeira (roasting dish). In pottery it is made in glazed clay. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

Clay lids stacked on a market stall — 011Testo (clay lid / baking cover) A lid used to cover a pot or a jar, according to the dictionary. In pottery it is made of clay.

A glazed bowl of rice pudding on a table — 012Tigela (bowl) An open, concave bowl for soup, milk or sweets. It is made in many sizes and finishes, from plain glazed clay to painted faience. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A small glazed bowl of caldo verde — 013Malga (small bowl) A concave, handleless container, usually for liquids such as soup; the dictionary gives tigela (bowl) as a synonym. There are clay malgas.

A set of hand-painted plates on a dresser — 014Prato (plate) A flat or slightly concave piece of tableware, in glazed ware or faience. In Portuguese ceramics the plate is also a frequent surface for painting. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A large oval serving platter with grilled fish — 015Travessa (serving platter) A large oval or rectangular dish for bringing roasts, fish, rice and other dishes to the table. It is made in glazed clay or faience. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A lidded soup tureen on a set dinner table — 016Terrina (tureen) A wide container, usually of ceramic or metal and with a lid, for bringing soup to the table; the dictionary gives sopeira as a synonym. The word also names a type of pâté.

A glazed jug on a restaurant table — 017Jarro (jug) A vessel with a spout and one handle, for pouring water, wine or milk. It is made in clay, glazed clay and faience. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A ewer and basin pair on a washstand — 018Gomil (ewer) A narrow-mouthed jug, according to the dictionary. It is often paired with a basin, for pouring water over the hands. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A ceramic mortar with garlic and coarse salt — 019Almofariz and gral (mortar and pestle) A concave vessel for crushing or grinding ingredients with a pestle. Gral is a synonym.

A clay oil lamp glowing on a rough table — 020Candeia (oil lamp) A lamp of metal or ceramic, with a fuel reservoir that feeds a wick. The dictionary notes that it was hung from a hook on the wall.

A charcoal clay stove grilling sardines at a festa — 021Fogareiro (clay brazier stove) A portable stove, of iron or clay, with a firebox, for cooking. The dictionary gives braseira as a synonym.

A couscous steamer on a kitchen stove — 022Cuscuzeiro (couscous steamer) A perforated container for cooking couscous; it is also called a cuscuzeira.

A decorated sugar bowl on a tea tray — 023Açucareiro (sugar bowl) A small lidded container for sugar at the table. In faience and porcelain sets it usually goes with the teapot and cups. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

Brightly painted clay bird whistles on a fair stall — 024Apito de barro (clay whistle) A small clay whistle, often shaped like an animal or a human figure, linked to the clay figure traditions of Barcelos and Estremoz. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A pig-shaped clay money box on a shelf — 025Mealheiro (money box) A hollow object with a narrow slot for dropping in savings. In clay it is a common pottery piece, often shaped like a pig. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A lidded glazed pitcher on a tavern table — 026Pichel (tankard / pitcher) A vessel, usually with a handle and spout, for drawing wine from casks. It also names a drinking vessel, generally of pewter, for wine.

A glazed basin on a stool in a rural courtyard — 027Bacia (washing basin) A wide, shallow vessel for washing hands, face or small items. In ceramic it is usually glazed and used with a jug. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A glazed teapot with steam on a kitchen table — 028Bule (teapot) A vessel with spout, lid and handle for making and serving tea. In ceramic it is made in glazed clay, faience or porcelain. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

Hand-thrown glazed mugs on a shelf — 029Caneca (mug) A cylindrical vessel with a handle, for coffee, milk, beer or wine. In ceramic it is made in glazed clay or stoneware. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A small clay oil can beside a hearth — 030Almotolia (oil can / cruet) A portable, conical vessel for olive oil and other oily liquids. The dictionary gives azeiteira and galheta as synonyms.

A clay funnel filling a bottle in a wine cellar — 031Funil (funnel) A utensil for pouring liquids, such as wine or oil, into narrow-necked vessels. It also exists in glazed clay. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A perforated clay cheese mould with fresh cheese — 032Queijeira (cheese mould / dish) A container in which cheese is served or kept, according to the dictionary. The word also names the room where cheese is made and the shelves where it dries.

An olive oil cruet on a set table beside a salad — 033Azeiteira (oil cruet) A spouted container for serving olive oil, closely related to the almotolia, of which the dictionary lists it as a synonym. At table it usually accompanies the vinagreira. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

Small clay jars arranged on a market stall — 034Cantarinha (small water jar) A diminutive of cântaro: a small jar. Many potteries make them, including as miniatures. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A clay frying pan with fish over embers — 035Frigideira de barro (clay frying pan) A wide, shallow utensil for frying, usually of metal and with a handle, according to the dictionary. A clay version also exists. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A clay brazier under a table in a winter kitchen — 036Braseira (brazier) A container in which embers are placed to heat a room. The word also names a small stove with a firebox, for cooking.

Individual clay baking dishes with baked egg — 037Covilhete (small dish) A word with several senses: a small bowl or saucer for sweets and, in Trás-os-Montes, a two-handled clay mug. It also names a small puff-pastry meat pie.

A large soup tureen at a family table — 038Sopeira (soup tureen) A wide, deep container, usually with a lid, for serving soup; the dictionary gives terrina as a synonym.

A sauce boat on a dinner table — 039Molheira (sauce boat) A container in which sauce is served at table. In dinner services it usually has a spout. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A painted salad bowl on a patio table — 040Saladeira (salad bowl) A large, wide bowl for tossing and serving salad. In ceramic it can be decorated inside and out. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A glazed bowl of oranges and figs on a table — 041Fruteira (fruit bowl) A wide bowl, footed or flat, for displaying fruit on the table or sideboard. It is made in glazed clay and in faience. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A clay salt cellar next to coarse salt — 042Saleiro (salt cellar) A small container for salt, with or without a lid. Portugal has a long tradition of salt pans. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A lidded butter dish at breakfast — 043Manteigueira (butter dish) A lidded container for butter, in glazed clay or faience. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

Glazed storage jars on a pantry shelf — 044Boião (storage jar) A round-bellied jar of glazed clay, glass or tin, used for jams, ointments and preserves, according to the dictionary.

A large clay bottle in a cellar corner — 045Garrafão (large bottle) A large container shaped like a bottle, with a short neck and usually a handle. It typically holds wine; clay versions also exist. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A coffee cup and saucer on a cafe table — 046Chávena e pires (cup and saucer) A small cup with a handle and its saucer, for coffee or tea. In Portugal they are made in porcelain and in faience. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A milk jug on a breakfast tray — 047Leiteira (milk jug) A container, usually with a spout and one handle, in which milk is served. It also names a deep cylindrical vessel for boiling milk.

A painted vase of wildflowers on a sideboard — 048Jarra (flower vase) A vase for cut flowers, in glazed clay, faience or porcelain. In Portuguese ceramics it may carry hand-painted decoration. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A ceramic candlestick on a shelf at night — 049Castiçal (candlestick) A holder in which candles are placed for light. It exists in several materials, including ceramic. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A small ceramic lamp glowing in a chapel niche — 050Lamparina (small oil lamp) A small lamp for a dim light in bedrooms. The dictionary also records the wick disc that is lit in it.

A clay water dish in a farmyard — 051Bebedouro (bird / animal drinking vessel) A container for giving animals water to drink. In clay it is a simple piece of rural pottery. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A clay bowl of stew in a farmhouse kitchen — 052Escudela (bowl) A bowl for food. The dictionary defines it as wooden, but the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia holds a ceramic escudela from the 15th-16th centuries.

A group of painted plates on a whitewashed wall — 053Prato de parede (wall plate) A decorative plate made to hang on the wall, usually with a hole or ring at the back. In Portugal, the painted plate is a common souvenir. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A row of clay pots on a water-wheel chain by a field — 054Alcatruz (noria pot) Each of the vessels that lift water in a nora (water wheel). In the Algarve the word also names a clay pot used to catch octopus.

A red clay jar decorated with white quartz chips — 055Pot from Nisa (decorated clay) In Nisa, in the Alto Alentejo, small fragments of quartz are applied to the outer surface of clay pieces in geometric and floral motifs. The decoration is traditionally done by the potters' wives.

A stewpot on the hob of a rural kitchen — 056Olha (stewpot) A pot, usually round-bellied and two-handled, in which broth is made or served. The word also names the dish of vegetables, sausage and meat prepared in it.

A clay flask resting in a field at harvest — 057Cantil (flask) A small, sturdy container for carrying water or another liquid.

A ceramic chocolate pot beside small cups — 058Chocolateira (chocolate pot) A vessel in which liquid chocolate is made. It usually has a spout and a handle and exists in ceramic and metal. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

Red clay flowerpots on stone steps — 059Vaso de barro (garden pot) A simple clay pot for plants, used in courtyards, on sills and on steps. It is a common product of red-clay potteries. General description; not confirmed to a single source.

A vinegar cruet beside a salad on a rustic table — 060Vinegar cruet (vinagreira) A container in which vinegar is kept. At table it usually pairs with the azeiteira (oil cruet). General description; not confirmed to a single source.

All images are AI-generated illustrations in the manner of the tradition, not photographs of specific objects.