A large set of glasses from the classic Toccata collection showing timeless design - Vista Alegre

The Vista Alegre Factory was the first industrial unit dedicated to porcelain manufacturing in Portugal. The determination of its founder, José Ferreira Pinto Basto, contributed to the immense success of this brand worldwide. José Ferreira Pinto Basto began building the company by acquiring the Ermida farm, located near the town of Ílhavo, by the Aveiro stream in 1812. In 1816, the entrepreneur acquired the Vista Alegre chapel at a public auction, as well as the surrounding lands, where he later built the Vista Alegre factory.

This is how it all began and continues to this day. So, what do the contemporary years look like?

In 1985, the company opened the Vista Alegre Centre for Art and Development (Centro de Arte e Desenvolvimento da Empresa - CADE) to encourage the creation of new works and decorations, as well as to promote training in painting and sculpture. By the late 1980s, Vista Alegre's works were showcased at significant international exhibitions, in places such as the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Royal Palace of Milan, which significantly contributed to the brand's global reputation.

In 1997, Vista Alegre's operating income nearly doubled following a merger with the ceramics group Cerexport. In May 2001, the merger of Vista Alegre Group and Atlantis Group brought exclusive glassware and crystal back to the company, resulting in the creation of the largest tableware group in Portugal and the sixth largest in the world in this sector, Vista Alegre Group (VAA Group).

In 2009, the VAA Group became part of the Visabeira group's portfolio, following a public takeover bid by this company for the representative share capital of the VAA group. Today, Vista Alegre is more than just an industrial unit. It is also part of Portuguese heritage, boasting buildings of undeniable architectural interest and a repository of social and artistic memories essential for building Portuguese identity.

What can we buy from Vista Alegre's extensive range?

The factory produces luxury porcelain tableware, decorative items, gifts, hotelware, high-quality glass and crystal, and 18/10 stainless steel cutlery. In addition to using modern production techniques, the porcelain factory also employs 17 hand painters who are responsible for decorating the produced items. Offering products in a wide range of styles, from classic to contemporary, the brand appeals to a broad audience of discerning consumers.

A contemporary heir to a long cultural tradition, Vista Alegre has been able to embrace contemporary values, which are reflected in countless collections created by prestigious international designers such as Carsten Gollnick, Sam Baron, Karim Rashid, Joana Vasconcelos, Roberto Chichorro, and Christian Lacroix, among many others.

What does the complex porcelain production process look like?

Porcelain can be manufactured using various processes, depending on the type of product and the intended characteristics. Hollow items, such as teapots and coffee pots, are made in the ceramics area using a technique known as slip casting. Slip casting involves pouring liquid porcelain clay, also known as slip, into a plaster mould. The casting process will depend on the absorption capacity of the plaster and the slip's dwell time inside the mould. The mould is emptied as soon as the clay layer reaches the desired thickness to remove excess slip. Once dry, the piece can finally be removed from the mould. Complex items, such as sculptures, often need to be made as separate parts, which are then glued together. This technique requires a great deal of experience and skill from the involved craftsmen to ensure the quality of the final product.

Flat items, cups, and symmetrical elements are produced in a special forming process, where plastic porcelain clay is placed inside a clay mould and pressed against its surface by a rotating metal head. In keeping with the Vista Alegre painting school's tradition of producing works of the highest quality, hand painting is reserved for works of high artistic and commercial value.

Relying on specialised, highly skilled artisans, Vista Alegre is one of the few ceramic manufacturers that offers a fully operational hand-painting workshop, where products are crafted in accordance with strict technical requirements. All painters employed by Vista Alegre have an in-depth knowledge of colour palettes, correct paint application techniques, and the behaviour of all materials during the firing stage.

Visitors to the Production section can observe the porcelain decoration techniques most commonly used at Vista Alegre and be captivated by its unique works, limited editions, personalised orders, and items adorned with coats of arms.

Decorated items must undergo the final firing stage in a muffle, also known as a decorative kiln, where the temperature does not exceed 860°C.