Sobre nós

About Us — The Portuguese Shop

Some things find you when you least expect them. For António dos Santos, it was the smell of hand-painted clay drying in the sun, the rhythmic tap of a craftsman's brush, and the sight of a woven straw bag hanging in a village market — simple, beautiful, and made to last. Born in Portugal, living in Barcelona for over 20 years, António never lost that pull — and in 2020, he decided to do something about it.

That's how The Portuguese Shop was born: a Barcelona-based online store dedicated to bringing authentic Portuguese pottery, handmade ceramics, and traditional woven bags straight to your door.

Every piece tells a story.
Our collection is hand-picked from small family workshops and beloved Portuguese brands that have been perfecting their craft for generations. From hand-painted azulejo-inspired tiles to traditional Alentejo clay bowls and colourful Barcelos roosters, each item carries the soul of the artisan who made it — and the warmth of a country that has always known how to make beautiful things.

Handwoven bags with centuries of tradition.
Alongside our ceramics, we carry a carefully selected range of traditional Portuguese woven straw bags — handmade by skilled craftswomen using techniques passed down through generations. Light, durable, and effortlessly stylish, these bags are as much a piece of Portuguese culture as they are a everyday accessory. Perfect as a summer bag, a market tote, or a meaningful gift, each one is unique — because when something is made by hand, no two are ever exactly the same.

We exist to do two things: support the small businesses and master craftspeople keeping Portugal's pottery and textile traditions alive, and help you bring a little of that magic into your everyday life — whether that's a thoughtful gift for someone special or a one-of-a-kind piece that makes your home feel like a holiday that never ends.

Meet António.
Graphic designer. Art director. Proud Portuguese. After two decades shaping visual identities in Barcelona, António also spent 10 years running El Recibidor, a mid-century furniture store that became his first real lesson in the art of curation — finding the right object, for the right space, for the right person. That experience gave him something no design school teaches: an instinct for pieces that carry genuine character.

When he turned that same instinct toward his Portuguese roots, The Portuguese Shop was the natural result. Every ceramic, every glaze, every woven thread he selects for the shop passes the same quiet test it always has — does it move him? If not, it doesn't make the cut.

Photo by Daniela Carvalho