Flowered vase

This panel depicting a flowered vase belonged to a vaster collection, now dispersed. This included other polychrome panels also depicting flowered vases and blue on white representations such as those belonging to the Berardo Foundation in Funchal, Madeira. They all came from a residence in Rua Nova da Trindade in Lisbon and were commissioned by Moreira Garcia, a Galician merchant and freemason. Those in blue and white were part of an iconographic programme about Masonry, which have been difficult to interpret given the syncretism in the panels of the Berardo Foundation.The panel with a vase in the shape of an urn holding a mix of flowers and foliage is an example of the author of the whole, Luís Ferreira, better known as "Ferreira das Tabuletas" or Ferreira the Sign-painter, reflecting a romantic eclecticism that combines naturalist and neoclassical elements. The entire commission was produced in Fábrica de Loiça de António da Costa Lamego, founded in 1849. It was one of the most important factories operating in Lisbon in the second half of the 19th century. It became better known as Viúva Lamego (Widow Lamego) the name it acquired after the death of its founder. The sign-painter Luis Ferreira, Ferreira das Tabuletas, appears as an author whom it has been possible to individualise at a time dominated by the anonymous production of industrial and semi-industrial pattern azulejos. From his work we see the continued traditional role of the azulejo as a support and disseminator of iconographic programmes, updated for new commissions and messages, those of the 19th century Portuguese middle class.