For the past 172 years, Viúva Lamego has been the reference for Portuguese hand painted tiles, an art that has been part of the country’s cultural, social and economic heritage since the 16th century. Founded in 1849 by António da Costa Lamego, it began as a pottery factory initially producing utilitarian pieces in red clay, tiles in white clay and some earthenware. He showcased his work by decorating the façade of his workshop with beautiful figurative tiles that are still visible in Lisbon today.

Since the early 20th century, Viúva Lamego has been focused on tile making, collaborating with renowned names such as Alvaro Siza Vieira and Joana Vasconcelos to create large-scale artistic and architectural projects. The manufacturer moved to its present site in Sintra in 1992. It is the uniqueness of the glaze, the artisans’ mastery of multiple handmade techniques and production capacity that distinguishes Viúva Lamego tiles. No matter how large the project, each tile is unique.