Cantarinha dos Namorados: meaning, history and where to buy the lovers' jug from Guimarães

The Cantarinha dos Namorados (the "lovers' jug") is a traditional piece of pottery from Guimarães, in northern Portugal. It is made of red clay, shaped like a small water jug, and decorated with raised flowers and sparkling mica powder. For centuries it was given to brides in the Minho region, who kept in it the money saved to buy their wedding gold necklace. Since 2022 it has been a certified traditional product of Guimarães.

Cantarinha dos Namorados at a glance

• Origin: Guimarães, Minho, Portugal.
• Material: red clay, shaped and decorated by hand.
• Decoration: raised flowers and ornaments, with mica powder for its typical shine.
• Shape: inspired by the jug young women carried to the fountain to fetch water.
• Traditional use: the bride's money box and a keepsake box for engagement gifts.
• Status: certified traditional product of Guimarães since July 2022.
• Where to buy: at Ra-Ro, for €96.20, made by A Oficina in Guimarães.

What is the Cantarinha dos Namorados?

It is a small lidded clay jug made in Guimarães. At first sight it looks like a purely decorative piece, but every detail has a reason. Its shape recalls the water jug young women carried to the fountain, one of the few moments of the day when sweethearts could cross paths. The surface is covered in raised flowers and dusted with mica, which makes it glitter in the light.

Mica decoration has been recorded in Guimarães since the 16th century. By the 19th century the cantarinha was also prized by wealthier families, and it went from an everyday object to a symbol of the city.

What does the Cantarinha dos Namorados mean?

The cantarinha was a promise. When a courtship became serious, the young man would offer it to the young woman. Accepting the cantarinha was, in practice, accepting the proposal.

From then on the jug had a very practical role. The bride kept in it the money she managed to save to buy the gold necklace she would wear on her wedding day. Other accounts say it also held the gifts and jewellery given by the groom's parents. It was a money box, a jewellery box and a token of commitment, all at once.

It has a close relative in the lovers' handkerchief, also from the Minho: two objects that said, without words, what the times did not allow to be said out loud.

How is a Cantarinha dos Namorados made?

The jug is shaped in red clay and then decorated by hand. The flowers and ornaments are applied one by one, in relief, onto the body of the jug. The mica finish is what sets the Guimarães cantarinha apart from other Minho pottery.

Because everything is done by hand, no two cantarinhas are the same. Small differences in shape, flowers or shine are part of each piece's authenticity.

Why is the Cantarinha dos Namorados a rare piece?

In 2022 the Guimarães City Council completed the certification of the Cantarinha dos Namorados as a traditional product. The city and a small group of artisans signed agreements requiring every certified piece to follow a set of traditional standards and techniques.

The problem is that very few hands are left to make it. Of the certified artisans, only two are still producing today. That is why the cantarinha belongs on the list of rare crafts still surviving in Portugal. To understand what separates a certified piece from an imitation, see also our guide to one-of-a-kind, limited edition and rare pieces.

How to recognise a genuine Cantarinha dos Namorados

• Red clay: the traditional piece is not porcelain or white faience.
• Raised flowers: applied by hand, with small irregularities.
• Mica shine: glittering specks across the surface.
• Lid: the cantarinha closes, because it was made to keep things safe.
• Known origin: you should be able to know who made it and where in Guimarães.

Where to buy the Cantarinha dos Namorados

The Cantarinha dos Namorados is sold at Ra-Ro for €96.20. It is made by A Oficina, in Guimarães, which Ra-Ro works with directly. Ra-Ro ships to Portugal, the rest of Europe, the United States, Canada and Brazil, with free shipping to mainland Portugal on orders over €50 and 30 days for returns.

If you want to know the region it comes from, our Minho travel guide covers what to see and what to take home. The Minho collection brings together other pieces from the same region.

A gift for which occasion?

The cantarinha still fits the same occasions as always: proposals, engagements, weddings and anniversaries. It is also a good choice among Portuguese handmade Christmas gifts, and a collector's piece for anyone looking for certified objects that are increasingly hard to find.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Cantarinha dos Namorados from?

It comes from Guimarães, in the Minho region of northern Portugal.

What was the Cantarinha dos Namorados used for?

It was given by the groom to the bride, who kept in it the money saved for her wedding gold necklace and the gifts received from the groom's parents.

Is the Cantarinha dos Namorados certified?

Yes. Since July 2022 it has been a certified traditional product of Guimarães, made according to traditional standards and techniques.

What is the Cantarinha dos Namorados made of?

Red clay, with raised flowers and mica powder.

How much does a Cantarinha dos Namorados cost?

At Ra-Ro, the Cantarinha dos Namorados by A Oficina costs €96.20.