Fernando Morgado "Memories Born from Clay"

Born in Galegos (Santa Maria), Barcelos, on 15th October 1927, the son of Américo Morgado and Ana de Jesus Correia de Abreu, both master artisans in the art of shaping clay. His origins were the driving force that made clay a constant presence in his life since his childhood. His long story now spans 94 years, filled with adventures, so many that we must sift through them to truly dive into the spirit of the potter. His journey with clay began at the age of 12, to help his family. He worked for two older brothers, painting figurines and pottery that would be sold at fairs. He gained experience and, not long after, began to be invited by other potters in the region to paint pieces, earning a fee per piece. It was during this time that, on several occasions, he painted the famous Barcelos roosters for Domingos Coto, a well-known master of Barcelos craftsmanship, and probably the first to create the Barcelos rooster on the potter’s wheel. At 24, in 1952, he emigrated to Brazil, where he joined his brother and worked at a ceramic factory in the municipality of Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. There, in 1954, just before establishing himself independently, he made his first figurine—a bust of his father. However, it would be several decades before he returned to producing figurines. That same year, he and his brother founded the company “Cerâmica Artística e Regional,” dedicated to producing water filters, vases, and other decorative ceramics. The death of his father in 1962 led to his return to Portugal the following year, but not before marrying Palmira Duarte Silva, also a Portuguese native from Viseu, who had emigrated to Brazil.

Back in Barcelos, once again, it was clay that provided the means to support his family and raise five children, through the founding of the company “Decorações Canta Galo,” which operated between 1963 and 1990, producing pottery and decorative ceramics. The end of his business activity in the demanding ceramics industry was due to health reasons. He then retired, but this did not take away his love for clay—in fact, it motivated him to dedicate himself exclusively to his true art—Figurines—creating pieces that reflect the world around him, such as religious themes, folklore, professions, rural scenes, and many traditions. It can even be said that he is one of the best artisans in Barcelos to portray the themes of traditions and the rural world in Minho. His work is unique, entirely handmade, fired, hand-painted, and deeply expressive, using nature-inspired tones with predominant pastel colours. Today, he keeps hundreds of creations in his home, located right next to the house where he was born, at the beginning of the 20th century. These creations reflect the last two decades, a time when the clay, in his hands, began to tell stories through the purest Figurado of Barcelos.

In early 2022, at the age of 94, Fernando Morgado, who was born with clay and made it his way of life, no longer produces his beloved figurines, having stopped in 2019 when his hands could no longer keep up with the will of age. However, his creativity, coupled with unexpected memories and resilience, remains completely intact. Not long ago, during an interview, when asked about the phrase that best characterised him as a man connected to pottery, he replied, "WE ARE BORN FROM CLAY AND, FOR SURE, WE WILL DIE IN CLAY."