The Showcase Room
This room is named after the two built-in showcases that display a significant part of the Museum’s faïence collection, in which the main 18th- and 19th-century production centres, from the north to the south of Portugal, are represented, notably Viana do Castelo, Miragaia and Massarelos, not forgetting the Real Fábrica do Rato in Lisbon, with marvellous pieces from its different periods. Highlights include a large cupboard in carved chestnut from the second half of the 17th century, covered with chinoiserie painting, and two imposing vases in Chinese porcelain decorated with ‘famille rose’ polychrome enamel, showing a pair of phoenix, apple tree branches and flowers and three large peonies.