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Ra-Ro Journal
Rare Stories
Stories, news and behind the scenes of Portuguese craft. What’s happening in the workshops, at the fairs and at Ra-Ro.
Endangered crafts in Portugal: rare techniques that still survive
Which Portuguese craft techniques are at risk of disappearing, which are on UNESCO's urgent safeguarding list and the national inventory, why they fade and what keeps them alive.
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What makes a piece rare? How rarity is measured in handmade crafts
What makes a handmade piece rare? I explain the criteria we use (how many hands still make it, technique, time, raw material) and the five levels of the Ra‑Ro Index, with real examples.
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Rare crafts in Portugal: the last master artisans still at work
Eight rare crafts in Portugal, from Algarve esparto to the cobertor de papa blanket of Maçainhas, told through the master artisans who keep them alive and the pieces they make.
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One-of-a-kind, limited edition or rare piece: what's the difference?
A one-of-a-kind piece, a limited edition and a rare piece are not the same thing. I explain the difference with real pieces by Portuguese makers, and how to recognise genuine handmade work before y...
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Portuguese handmade Christmas gifts: a guide by price
Portuguese handmade Christmas gifts sorted by budget: up to €25, up to €60, up to €120 and over €150. Every piece with its maker, village and story.
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Devils, Sarroncos and Mafarricos: the dark side of Portuguese figurado
From the Barcelos Devil to the Sarronco and the Mafarrico: who Rosa Ramalho was, why figurado de Barcelos is full of devils, the Rooster legend and how to spot an author piece.
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Cobertor de Papa: price, where to buy and how to spot the genuine one
A buyer's guide to the cobertor de papa: what it costs and why, where to buy the genuine blanket made in Maçainhas (Guarda), how to recognise it, shepherd's blanket versus manta lobeira, and how to...
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Viola Campaniça, Viola Braguesa and Cavaquinho: differences and prices
What is the difference between the viola campaniça from Alentejo, the viola braguesa from Minho and the cavaquinho? Strings, tunings, music, history and the price of an instrument handmade by luthi...
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Magusto at home: how to roast chestnuts in a clay chestnut roaster
Portugal's Magusto and St. Martin's Day on 11 November, explained: the legend of the cloak, água-pé and jeropiga, and how to roast chestnuts at home in a black clay chestnut roaster from Gondar, pl...
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Porta da Loja apple: what it is, where it comes from, where to buy
The Porta da Loja apple is a traditional variety from Minho, linked to the Tibães Monastery in Braga. I explain what it is, how it tastes, when it is harvested, how to store it and where to buy it.
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Palm leaf bag from Tavira: the hands that still go to the fields
Fifty years ago in Tavira, farmers made their own palm leaf baskets. This bag comes from that tradition, made by the hands of AECT's artisans.
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Black Clay Chestnut Roaster: autumn in Gondar
A black clay chestnut roaster, fired by soenga in Gondar by César Teixeira and his son João, among the last to master this technique.
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