Algarve water jug

The Barcelos technical file groups its oldest wares as red ceramics (louça vermelha, matt or polished), as against glazed red ware. The list includes cântaros, moringas, bottles, chocolate pots, pots, caçoilas, saucepans, mugs and chestnut roasters. Because the body is porous, it conducts heat well and can go on a direct flame or in the oven. The same porosity lets it store cool water. Borretos and cântaros are classed as hydroceramics, since the porous paste allows heat exchange between the air outside and inside and keeps liquids fresh.

Decoration of matt red ware, when there is any, is low relief: bands, fillets, wavy, straight and zigzag lines, and the crimped edge called encrespado made with a wooden tool (encrespadeira). Polished ware is burnished on the wheel while slightly dry, until the surface is even and shiny. Glazing changes the picture, because glazed red ware has a waterproof, glossy surface that is easy to clean. For black pottery, the Saber Fazer programme says the vinegar jar, the talha vinagreira, was waterproofed with hard pitch on firing day.