This historical building was designed for the artist Jose Malhoa as his home and work studio. In 1932 it was purchased by the bachelor "Optician of the Stars" Dr. Anastacio Goncalves. The good doctor had friends in high places and was also an avid collector. He particularly liked Chinese porcelains, Portuguese paintings and elaborate desks. As the story goes, he visited a farm house where he saw two very large porcelain jars used as fishbowls. He liked these jars so much that he bought the entire farm, took the jars home and then sold that farm afterwards. As our guide said he had lots of money. The house and contents were ceded to the government for use as a museum. Now the 3000 pieces of art collected by the doctor are spread all through the house. We were blessed that many of the informational signs were not in English so we ended up being guided by two lovely attendants. The insights and anecdotes were delightful. Many of the features that were custom built for the original artist would not have been so apparent if they had not been pointed out to us by the attendants. These included the long hallway used to dry canvases and the very large north facing windows used to get light for painting purposes.
A cuppa between museums
The attention to detail is immediately displayed in the fencing materials
The cost was nominal 5 euro each
Hearts on this gate
A huge incense burner or foot warmer...
Ceramic pooches
Woof. I say, woof
Painted window
Juts one example of the detailed wooden accents
A Chinese traveling desk
With carved accents
The top of a light
Many scenes from the sea, the frame was very intricate
Four paintings for the price of one
A whole bunch of watches
With little people inside
A whole lot of gold on the outside
Here's looking at you
Shall we dance?
A gas powered hot water heater
These local burrs are placed on the beds and chairs to keep people off
Early semaphore
This is a great monogram
The front gate!
Desks were a thing the good Doctor liked to collect
We were not sure what this was
But then we saw the matching piece
The stained glass on the right was closed off from the sun for another week until the sun angle blocks off the heat
Another painted window
Tick tock
Another desk
This was a traveling desk
A long hallway to hang paintings out to dry
I was ready for a lay down
But the thistle/thorns stopped me!
So delicate
Aquarium bowl
Koi fish
The large window is shuttered
A gallery up in a special gallery space
Sassy!
Classic Portuguese Ship
Knotty creatures
Fancy light fixture
The door
It was not the only fancy building in the area
1905!
Tile work on the side
The large windows can be seen here
What a fine gate
Original gate and balcony
So detailed
The front door
Crowns on all the lightposts
More deco
The city of great gates
Ornate stone work
Standing at the gate
Spider webby
Made it back to our square
Lucky the lizard
