Portuguese jewelery is closely linked to the history of Portugal. It lived majestically in palaces, churches and castles. It participated in the celebrations of the glorification of war victories, in the processions of Faith, and above all in the manifestations of national awareness.
Cultural Heritage
It filled the holy places with the most beautiful objects designed and executed in the workshops of the monasteries. But it was only later that the use of noble metals became available as of today, which added up to an artistic, historical and cultural heritage of inestimable value.
Treasures
The dignity and professional competence of the Portuguese masters, the profound religiosity of the Brotherhood of St. Elói (the patron saint of the goldsmiths), combined with a knowledgeable and demanding clientele (clergy, nobility), and later the third state (mainly courtiers and bourgeois), translated into the production of treasures of the best quality.
Importance
It is also pertinent to comment on the importance and quality of portuguese masters until the end of the Monarchy (the clergy and nobility were generous protectors of jewelry), as they had a relevant seat at official events and public parties, namely in the Corpus Christi procession, where they paraded with own banners and clothing. It was also common to celebrate weddings between important families and master goldsmiths.
Source of Wealth
They were grouped in streets that defined their art craft, where they cultivated knowledge and excellence in their tents or workshops. They were a source of enormous wealth in terms of knowledge and good work, from where all the precious things that were made were addressed to Popes (like Innocent II and Alexander III), princess endowments, gifts and payments for war efforts, etc.
Noble Art
The pieces of art articulate, a dialogue which makes us think of Jewelery for its architecture, techniques and ornaments, always relating to its history, its Masters and above all knowledge, deepening the secrets of this noble Art so Portuguese as it is its Jewelery.