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O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa
Handmade byO Genuíno Cobertor de Papa
Lobeira Wool Blanket
271,90 €
Available
Ra-Ro IndexUniqueWhat is the Ra-Ro Index?Long before the age of electric heaters, heated floors, and the globalization of synthetic fibers, shepherds and their families wrapped themselves in layers of natural wool, thickly woven, compact to withstand the cutting cold of the Guarda highlands (Beira Alta,...
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Handmade byO Genuíno Cobertor de PapaDimensions
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Shipping time: Approximately > 8 weeks
We ship worldwide. You have 14 days to return the piece free of charge. Payment is secure and encrypted.
Manta lobeira
Lobeira Wool Blanket
A thick wool blanket, woven on a hand loom around 300 years old.
The story
The shepherds of Guarda wrapped themselves in these layers of wool to face winter, and summer too, because *what keeps out the cold keeps out the heat*. Woven on a *wooden hand loom around 300 years old*, this heavy, waterproof blanket was rescued from extinction by the association of *Céu Reis*. Its colourful pattern still guides the flocks, which follow it by instinct.
Story of the piece
Lobeira Wool Blanket
Feel the weight of the mountains in this rare, thickly woven wool blanket.
Long before the age of electric heaters, heated floors, and the globalization of synthetic fibers, shepherds and their families wrapped themselves in layers of natural wool, thickly woven, compact to withstand the cutting cold of the Guarda highlands (Beira Alta, Portugal), but also in the summer, because "what shields from the cold, shields from the heat."
It was called the Cobertor de Papa (papa blanket).
It still is, because the Associação O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa (The Genuine Papa Blanket Association) rescued the tools and the secrets of its manufacture from extinction just a few years ago. Traditional, handcrafted, thick, waterproof, warm, long-haired, woven on a roughly 300-year-old wooden hand loom, the oldest of its kind in the world.
We have Céu Reis to thank. She created the association and its workshop after the last factory in the region - where she had worked for 28 years - closed. Alfredo, Dulce, and Rosa Baía (Céu's mother) are also Papa blanket artisan volunteers whose process relies on their cooperation and complementarity, forming a team. Rosa Baía is over 91 years old. Her career as a fuller and warper spans eight decades, ever since she was a child of just 11.
It is heavy - you can feel its weight. Or is it the weight of history, of the mountains, of the harsh winters? Either way, it smells a little of the wind, a little of the fields, a little of a night by the fireplace. Some people use them as art. Others as heritage. Others simply sleep under them every night, just as their grandparents did.
And even today, it is the faithful companion of the shepherds, serving as a beacon for the flock, which, accustomed to its colorful pattern, follows it instinctively.
Ra-Ro Index: Unique › learn more
In numbers
The piece in facts.
Loom age300years
The wooden hand loom it is woven on is around 300 years old.
Rosa Baía91years
Céu Reis's mother is still at work at 91, eight decades after she began.
Length225cm
It measures 225 cm long by 170 cm wide.
See the piece
See every detail.
Overview
The folded blanket
Layers of thick wool with the colourful manta lobeira pattern.
- 1Folded blanketThick and heavy, even when folded.
- 2Colourful patternThe pattern the flocks learn to follow.
- 3Colour blocksRed, yellow and green in woven wool.
Detail
Up close
The long-pile wool and its colours, seen up close.
- 1Colour blocksRed, yellow and green in woven wool.
- 2Black stripesBands of dark wool between the colour blocks.
- 3White woolNatural long-pile wool.
About the piece
Dimensions and care.
Dimensions
Care
Shipping time
Meet the Producer
WOVEN ON A 300‑YEAR‑OLD HISTORIC LOOM
Céu Reis founded the association that revived this tradition, working with a certified team to produce blankets the traditional way.
discover the story
The journey
O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa
Early Life and Weaving Traditions
Factory Work and the Craft’s Decline
Revival Through O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa
Recognition and Legacy
Heavy. You can feel its weight. Or is it the weight of history, of the mountains, of harsh winters? Long before the age of electric heaters, shepherds and their families wrapped themselves in these layers of natural wool to endure the biting cold of the Guarda highlands. We have Maria do Céu to thank, who founded the association after the region’s last factory closed. Her brother and friends came to work with her and her mother, Rosa Baía, who never stopped. At 91, her career spans eight decades. Either way, it smells a little of the wind, a little of the fields, a little of a night by the fireplace. Some people use them as art. Others as heirlooms.
Questions
Everything you need to know.
What is this piece?
Colourful Papa wool blanket, handwoven in Beira Alta by O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa on a wooden loom around 300 years old.
Which region is it from?
It comes from Beira Alta, in Portugal. At Ra-Ro, every piece is tied to its origin and to the territory where it is made.
Who makes this piece?
It is made by O Genuíno Cobertor de Papa, the producer Ra-Ro works with directly for this piece.
What technique is used?
This piece is made using the Tecelagem technique.
Are all pieces identical?
As a handmade piece, it may vary slightly from one example to another. That variation is part of its authenticity.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes, Ra-Ro ships worldwide.
How do returns work?
You have 14 days for a free return.
Is payment secure?
Yes, all payments are processed securely and encrypted.
Use it as art, as an heirloom or simply to sleep under, every night.
271,90 € · available to ship
Buy nowWorldwide shipping14 days for free returnsSecure payment
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