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Cantarinha dos namorados (lovers’ jar) is a traditional pottery piece from Guimarães, Portugal, in red clay, shaped like a small stacked water jug with a lid and decorated with raised flowers and shiny mica powder. It was linked to courtship and marriage and was certified as traditional craft production in 2022.
Origin and history
The cantarinha dos namorados is one of the strongest symbols of Guimarães. Tradition says it was given during courtship and, once accepted, became the place where the bride kept what she saved for the wedding. In the story told in Guimarães, brides gathered there the money to buy the gold necklace for their wedding day, as well as the gifts from the groom’s family.
In 2022, Guimarães council completed the certification of the cantarinha as traditional craft production. Certification sets rules and techniques that pieces must follow to use the name, and protects an object that few artisans still make.
How it is made
The cantarinha is shaped in red clay and fired. Its form recalls a water jug, with a wide body and a second, smaller body on top, finished with a lid. The decoration is applied by hand: small raised flourishes and crushed mica powder, which gives the surface its characteristic shimmer.
Some descriptions give each part a meaning, such as the couple’s prosperity in the larger body and a bird on top that would keep the secrets of the relationship. These meanings belong to the oral tradition that surrounds the piece.
Where it comes from
The cantarinha dos namorados comes from Guimarães, in Minho. In the historic centre, the shop and gallery A Oficina, a cultural cooperative of the city, presents cantarinhas made by certified artisans alongside other local crafts such as Guimarães embroidery.
How to recognise it and care for it
A certified cantarinha is made of red clay, with hand-applied floral relief and a mica shimmer. It is a decorative piece, not for holding liquids. Clean it with a soft brush, without water, and keep it safe from falls. Each piece is slightly different, because the decoration is done by hand.
Where to buy
At Ra-Ro you can buy the Cantarinha dos Namorados through A Oficina, in Guimarães. From the same maker, see also the embroidered linen Lavender Bag and Almond Bag.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cantarinha dos namorados?
It is a red clay piece from Guimarães, decorated with raised flowers and mica, which tradition links to courtship and the bride’s dowry.
What was the cantarinha dos namorados used for?
According to Guimarães tradition, the bride kept in it the money she saved for her wedding gold necklace and the gifts from the groom’s family.
Where can I buy a cantarinha dos namorados?
In Guimarães, at A Oficina, or online at Ra-Ro, which sells the Cantarinha dos Namorados made by artisans from the city.
