One can enjoy the exclusiveness of this month’s item at the Solar do Ribeirinho, in Machico.
Since last November 10th the Machico council has been showing, at the Solar do Ribeirinho, four instances of “ratinha” crockery, belonging to a private collector. The origine of this crockery is to be found in the 19th and early 20th century, when worker from the centre of the country moved to the Alentejo and Ribatejo to assist with the crops and other intensive agricultural tasks. They were known as “ratinhos”, and they would take pieces of crockery for their own use, for the duration of their stay, after which they would attempt to sell them in the South before heading back home. This crockery, mostly made out of large dishes, was characterized by their low price, the intensity of the colours and the shine of the glazing – it became known as the “ratinha” crockery.
The four pieces can be viewed at the Solar do Ribeirnho, very close to the centre of Machico.
