Officially created in 1983, it corresponds to an old desire of the population of the city of Caldas da Rainha, a ceramic centre of acknowledged tradition. Installed in the Quinta Visconde de Sacavém, and acquired for this purpose in 1981, the Ceramics Museum is located in the historical area of the city, next to the D. Carlos I Park and close to the current Bordalo Pinheiro Factory.
The collections consist of a representative synthesis of several Portuguese and foreign ceramic centres, from the 16th century to the present day. Local production predominates, from pottery and artistic production of the nineteenth century, by authors such as Manuel Mafra, who introduced the naturalist style of Bernard Palissy in this centre, to the contemporary creations of some ceramists from Caldas da Rainha, such as Ferreira da Silva or Eduardo Constantino.
It is worth mentioning the remarkable collection of items by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, manufactured at Fábrica de Faianças das Caldas da Rainha, and the Art Noveau production by Costa Motta Sobrinho. The museum features also a section on glazed tiles, and miniature items, with an emphasis on the works of Francisco Elias.
The Fifth Viscount of Sacavém, a revivalist architectural complex from the end of the 19th century, consists of a late-romantic mansion that houses the permanent exhibition and renovated adjoining areas, where the temporary exhibition room, the shop, pottery and documentation centre are located. The Quinta gardens, with a romantic layout,is an interesting set of buildings evocative of the taste of the late nineteenth century, with its alleys, flower beds, flowerpots and an open-air auditorium.
The set of ceramic decorations is remarkable and includes glazed tiles dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries, statues, and ceramic architectural elements. The palace's facades feature dragon or boar-shaped gargoyles, which combine with tile panels, friezes, and enclosures. .These decorations enhance the appreciation of a significant ceramic heritage, while also creating an exclusive leisure destination.
