Take note: it's bold, distinctive, attractive, and eye-catching!
We're talking about our Baixela da Bajouca (Bajouca's Tableware), obviously! Not what you expected from a tableware set?
Bold because of the shape of the plates, which are naturally round but distinctively flat, thick, and dense. With raised edges at right angles, they are high enough to provide the support often missing when using just a fork or spoon. They combine this straight-line configuration with the robustness and rustic touch of traditional pottery.
Distinctive due to the unusual presentation of designs in random, unique shapes, all different from each other, resulting from the blend of white and red clays, giving each piece a unique look. No two are the same!
Differences between the various designs created by the mixture of white and red clays, with the Clear glaze. © After Hall 2024
For a stronger, more appealing character, the brown glaze, with warm and suggestive tones, promises to be mouth-watering, as expected from a delicious meal. For less intense, more down-to-earth and light-hearted moments, as some meals should be, the clear glaze preserves the natural tones of the clay with the same good taste and refinement.
Available glazes: Clear (left) and Brown (right). © After Hall 2024
Therefore, our remarkable baixela (tableware/serving set) is not in the Louis XV style — like the illustrious Augustin Veyrat tableware for Her Majesty Queen Maria Pia (1847–1911), consort queen of Portugal between 1862 and 1889. In fact, it is not even made of silver, so it won’t cool down the food too quickly — we all know it tastes better hot! However, it has attributes that make it eye-catching and is handcrafted in one of the potteries of the Bajouca region, in the district of Leiria, exclusively for After Hall and using white clay from the region itself.
Bajouca already boasts a long tradition of handcrafted pottery, with its characteristic utilitarian pieces — such as the chicken roasters with built-in skewers and the yellow and green salad bowls found in many Portuguese homes — as well as its typical decorative items, like the charming green frogs.
Photograph of various tools and utensils used in pottery. © After Hall 2024
To sweeten the deal even further, all this craftsmanship and expertise we’ve been talking about comes right from our own neighbourhood! And, of course, we couldn't miss this great opportunity to collaborate and promote the local economy.
DISCOVER THE BAIXELA DA BAJOUCA COLLECTION
A special thank you to Chef Guilherme from Restaurante Nini (Marinha Grande) for his artistry and dedication in crafting the dishes that bring the Baixela da Bajouca collection to life.
Cover photo: © After Hall 2024