ABSTRACT
In Portugal, private collecting has experienced notable consolidation during the 20th and 21st centuries. This article examines the formation of the João Maria Ferreira Collection, comprising 19th- and 20th-century ceramics from Caldas da Rainha. It also presents a case study of three collectors – Alfredo Lucas Cabral, Artur Maldonado Freitas, and António Capucho – with the aim of understanding the origins of these collections, the processes through which they were assembled, the common features they share, and the role they have played within the broader Portuguese cultural heritage landscape.
KEYWORDS
Collecting | Private collection | 20th century | Ceramics | Caldas da Rainha