Sunday, September 24, 2023

22 September 2023 Lisbon: A Grand Old Building the Casa Malhoa

 


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




It has been 1 year and 109 days since we began our Migration