From simple decorations to complex ideologies. Cultural and social influences in Portuguese tin glaze consumption in 16th and 17th century

A lot has already been said about the presence of Portuguese tin glaze ware in archaeological contexts concerning its production and general consumption, either in Portugal or abroad. This ware, which started to be discreetly made in Lisbon at least in late 15th century, was already a high production commodity one century later and globally traded in mid-17th century. However, what starts to be a modest production almost absent of decoration is going to be transformed into a cultural palimpsest where every object is a reflection of a world in contact, a symbol of empire, and globalization. This paper is based on a collection of Portuguese tin glaze ware found in Carnide (Lisbon), roughly dated 1550-1650. Plates, bowls, bottles and other recipients correspond to what was used on a daily basis to eat food from at the table. These hundred years mark important moments in the production of this ware with enormous changes in terms of quality, quantity and iconographic repertoires.