Museum of Portuguese Popular Art

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Leiria > Pombal > Pombal

Location

The Portuguese Folk Art Museum is located in Pombal, in the parish of São Martinho, at the heart of this municipality in the district of Leiria.

Integrated into the town's urban fabric, the museum is situated in a central area, known for its accessibility and its integration into the daily life of the community.

A Collection with Soul

The museum's collection is based on a remarkable personal collection gathered over more than 30 years by Nelson Lobo Rocha. This collector dedicated himself to sourcing and selecting craft pieces directly from the artisans, often forming bonds of friendship with them.

This close relationship allowed him to capture the true essence of each object, understanding the stories, feelings, and contexts behind their creation, making the collection particularly genuine and representative of Portuguese folk culture.

A Mirror of Folk Culture

The museum showcases a vast collection of over two thousand pieces, gathered from various regions of the country. It is a faithful portrayal of Portuguese craftsmanship, encompassing pottery and a rich ethnographic collection.

The displayed objects tell stories of the daily life of the Portuguese people, their festivals, beliefs, and traditional crafts. Through a vast array of materials, such as clay, wood, plant fibers, or metals, and both ancient and contemporary techniques, the museum demonstrates how popular knowledge remains alive and evolving.

The Diversity of Portuguese Folk Culture

The museum's collection allows for an immersion into the traditions and identity of different regions of Portugal. Each exhibited object is a testament to the memory of a people, revealing their culture, the environment where it developed, and the era to which it belongs.

With its pieces full of color, fantasy, and detail, the museum reveals Portugal's cultural heritage, showcasing the richness and diversity of its crafts and popular expressions.

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