Hat Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Aveiro > São João da Madeira > São João da Madeira > Fontainhas

Location

The Hat Museum is located in São João da Madeira, a city in Northern Portugal, which stands out for its strong connection to industrial heritage. Situated in the urban area of Fontainhas, the museum is housed in what was, in times, a central building for local and national industry.

Its location allows visitors to immediately immerse themselves in the atmosphere that once characterized this city, where industrial production played a decisive role in the lives of its people and the region's economy.

The Legacy of an Industry

This museum occupies the premises of the former Empresa Industrial de Chapelaria Lda., a factory founded in 1914 by António José de Oliveira Júnior. This manufacturing unit was, during its period of activity, the largest of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula, profoundly marking the history of hat-making in Portugal.

The building, in itself, is a testament to the evolution of the hat industry in the country, from the initial mechanization of the 20th century, through its heyday in the middle of the century, to its eventual decline. It preserves the memory of a sector that was a driving force for the development of São João da Madeira.

The Universe of the Hat

Inside the museum, visitors discover the vast and diverse collection of the former Empresa Industrial de Chapelaria and other local manufactures. The permanent exhibition invites a journey through the hat manufacturing process, from raw materials to the final product.

It is possible to observe closely a significant collection of industrial machines and tools, as well as numerous examples of hats, illustrating the diversity of styles and the evolution of fashion. The exhibition route also includes records and testimonies of the workers, highlighting the fundamental role of labor, including the contribution of women, in hat production. The space was designed so that one can almost feel the sounds of the machines, evoking the atmosphere of a factory in full operation.

Memory and Symbol

In the museum's outdoor courtyard, a singular monument pays tribute to the industry's workers: that of the "Black Nails". This expression, which for decades was synonymous with hat-maker, originated from the working conditions of these laborers.

Due to the handling of steam boilers, known as "fulas", their nails would become stained black. The term "Black Nails" eventually transcended the factory context, becoming generalized in the region to designate the inhabitants of São João da Madeira, perpetuated in the eponymous novel by João da Silva Correia. This monument is a strong symbol of the identity and resilience of a community forged by work.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt