Alentejo painted furniture: what it is, where it comes from and how to recognise a hand painted piece

By Sérgio Carvalho, co-founder of Ra-Ro · View profile

About a 5 minute read

Alentejo painted furniture is the tradition of decorating household pieces by hand, such as chairs, chests, beds, chests of drawers and tea trays, with flowers and sprigs on a plain coloured background. It is traditionally painted with enamel paint, on blue, white, green, red or yellow grounds. According to tradition, it began in Évora in the mid 19th century and then spread to craftsmen in other Alentejo towns, where some still keep it alive, like Zézinha in Redondo.

Alentejo painted furniture in short

• What it is: furniture and household objects decorated by hand with flowers, leaves and sprigs.
• Origin: said to have begun in Évora in the mid 19th century, later taken up by craftsmen elsewhere in the region.
• Traditional pieces: chairs with buinho rush seats, chests, beds, chests of drawers and tea trays.
• Background colours: blue, white, green, red and yellow, plus garnet and dark green.
• Paint: traditionally, enamel paint.
• At Ra-Ro: six pieces painted by the artisan Zézinha from Redondo, from €13.10 to €57.80.

What Alentejo painted furniture is

It is decorative painting applied to everyday pieces. The furniture, or the object, first gets a single colour background. On top of it, the painter composes bunches of flowers, leaves and small sprigs that repeat on corners, doors, drawers or chair backs. This is not easel painting: it is decoration to live with, in a kitchen, a bedroom or a dining room. The pieces were made to withstand daily use and the passing of years.

Where the tradition comes from

The most common account says that Alentejo painted furniture began in Évora in the mid 19th century and was later adopted by craftsmen in other towns of the region. It is hard to pin an exact date on a craft passed from master to apprentice in small workshops with few written records. What we do know is that these pieces became part of the Alentejo home and are recognised at a glance all over Portugal. And that few painters are left working by hand in this way.

Which pieces were painted

The best known are the chairs with buinho rush seats, still seen in many Alentejo homes and taverns. But the painting reached almost everything in the house: chests for linen, beds, chests of drawers, wardrobes, bedside tables and tea trays. The craftspeople who carry on the tradition today bring the same language to smaller pieces, such as boxes, coasters, watering cans and tinware, which fit into any home, even a flat.

Colours and motifs

The background is always a strong, flat colour. Blue, white, green, red and yellow are the most traditional, and garnet and dark green are also part of the palette. The motifs are almost always plants: open flowers, buds, leaves and sprigs that link one flower to the next. Flower colours are chosen to contrast with the ground, and softer tones give the petals volume and light. Some painters take liberties: Zézinha's tea tray has a black background, which is not a traditional colour.

How a piece is painted

1. The background: the base colour is applied evenly over the whole piece.
2. The centre of each flower: Zézinha draws it with her finger, a gesture she learned from her master.
3. Petals, leaves and sprigs: these are finished with brushes, in softer tones to create contrast.

It is this handwork that gives each piece its character. Two pieces of the same shape never end up exactly alike in their painting.

Redondo and the artisan Zézinha

Redondo, in the district of Évora, is a town of craftspeople, also known for its pottery. It is there that Zézinha has been painting Alentejo furniture for four decades. She learned from her master and is now one of the few people in Redondo who still paint these pieces. Through her flowers and sprigs she shows the customs and homes of the region, which is why her work found its way to Ra-Ro.

How to recognise a hand painted piece

• Small differences: the flowers repeat, but they are never exact copies of each other.
• Layers of paint: in raking light you can sometimes see the petal sitting on top of the background.
• Visible brushstrokes: leaves and sprigs show the direction of the brush.
• Flower centres: on Zézinha's pieces each centre is pressed with a finger and differs slightly from the next.
• Who made it: a craft piece has a name and a place; be wary of identical pieces sold by the dozen.

How to care for painted furniture

• Dust: wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
• Moisture: do not leave the piece wet or in very damp places.
• No abrasives: scourers, bleach and harsh detergents can scratch or lift the paint.
• Heat: keep it away from radiators, stoves and hours of strong sun.
• Knocks: move it carefully so the paint does not chip.

Where to buy Alentejo painted furniture

At Ra-Ro you will find six pieces hand painted by Zézinha, all with flowers and sprigs:

• Miniature Watering Can, yellow background: €13.10.
• Bicado tin jug, white background: €15.30.
• Coaster Box, six blue coasters: €27.00.
• Tea Tray, black background: €30.70.
• Egg Cabinet, dark green background: €50.80.
• Jewellery Box with drawers, red background: €57.80.

If you are heading to the Alentejo, our Alentejo travel guide will help you plan. To discover other crafts from across the country, read our guide to Portuguese crafts by region.

Frequently asked questions

What is Alentejo painted furniture?

It is the tradition of hand painting flowers, leaves and sprigs on household pieces with a plain coloured background, such as chairs, chests, beds, chests of drawers and tea trays.

Where does Alentejo painted furniture come from?

According to tradition, it began in Évora in the mid 19th century and was later adopted by craftsmen in other Alentejo towns.

What paint is used on Alentejo furniture?

Traditionally enamel paint, applied first as a flat background and then for the flowers and sprigs.

What are the traditional colours of Alentejo furniture?

The most traditional backgrounds are blue, white, green, red and yellow, and garnet and dark green are also used.

How do you clean hand painted furniture?

With a soft, dry cloth, without scourers or harsh detergents, and away from damp and direct heat.

Where can I buy Alentejo painted furniture?

At Ra-Ro, with six pieces hand painted by the artisan Zézinha from Redondo, from €13.10 to €57.80.