"In 1578 four “colchas” (bedcovers) were sent along with other gifts to what is now Morocco in exchange for the body of  portuguese King D.Sebastião."

Castelo Branco embroidery designs date from the 12th century. It is a luxury product, handmade by artisans using linen made on a loom and embroidered with silk threads. Prized equally for their exoticism and for yheir aesthetic qualities, such works continue to delight and amaze. Some designs reflect influences brought back from the Orient on the Portuguese voyages of exploration.   However, there are also references to daily life, the local fauna and flora or even just erudite artistic figures appropriate to the respective periods and taken from Renaissance and Baroque imagery. In some parts of the Castelo Branco district, they are still part of the bride´s trousseau shown on her wedding day when the bride and groom open up their homes to the guests.

According to the legend and honeymoon stories they were offered to the couple as a wedding night gift, ensuring luck, romantic nights, last longing happiness and a beautiful cover to the couple first time lovemaking (Besides being an bicentenary and invaluable treasure it’s also – from that standpoint – an true erotic must in the history of luxury, love and lust that could figure in Casanova’s or Pompadour's sumptuous wardrobe)

Depending on the design the prices of a bedspread may rise, if brand new and just made, from €1500 to €45,000.

A secular article as this one - a Museum Quality Authentic 19th Century Antique Portuguese Ceremonial Wedding Bedspread with Silk Embroidery and Appliquéd Gold Threads - is, of course, priceless.

本物のポルトガル語国宝

一個真正的葡萄牙語國家寶藏

Μια γνήσια πορτογαλικά εθνικός θησαυρός

一个真正的葡萄牙语国家宝藏

Ein echter Schatz nationalen portugiesischen

Een echte Portugese nationale schat

Португальский подлинное национальное достояние

البرتغاليه وطنية حقيقية الكنز

 

‘The bedspreads from Castelo Branco, of oriental inspiration, have been known at least since the middle of the 12th century. Made from luxury linen, notorious by the extravagant embroidery they are hand-stitched and hand-woven by Portuguese fabric workers. Embroidery is a tradition that goes back to the needlework practiced in Portuguese convents in the Middle Ages. Castelo Branco embroidery is produced in multicolour silk threads designs with inspired themes.

Similar to the bedspreads from Toledo and Guadalupe, these have for centuries been a key piece in any bride’s trousseau, either plebeian or noble. Portugal, as India, has developed a rich and varied tradition in textile production. While traditions of weaving and dye patterning of cloth have received considerable attention the embellishment of textiles through embroidery has attracted sporadic and uneven attention. Several European groups voyaged to India after the Portuguese opened the route via the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. The Portuguese, however, were the only ones to explore the potential of Indian embroidered textiles.  These items, categorised as Indo- Portuguese Embroideries, are to be found in Portuguese Museum Collections.  Quilted silk and cotton bedcovers, together with cushions and carpets, were among the Eastern articles used to give a new soft effect to the European interior in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In striking contrast to the homely values bestowed on bed quilts today, people of the seventeenth century viewed quilted bedcovers as exotic, almost sinful, luxuries. The coveted coverlets became such a profitable part of the Portuguese trade that by 1620, the Portuguese author Nicolau de Oliveira (1566-1634) observed: "There is no ship from India that does not bring at least four hundred."

These bedspreads are made of linen and embroidered in silk thread, and their decorative elements carry a unique symbolism. In this way, the pitcher represents the hearth and the tree of life; the newlywed are represented by a couple of birds together or by the drawing of a symbolic man and woman; the chain-stitch stands for the unbreakable chain of matrimony; carnations represent the Man and roses the Woman; lilies stand for Virtue and hearts for Love; tendrils represent Friendship, ivy deep affection; jasmine means the virtue of chastity; pomegranates and pines are the solidarity of the family; cockerels stand for the blessed offspring, and lizards are the amulet for a much desired happiness.

These exceptional and inestimable bedspreads can only be admired in ourdays at Castelo Branco’s Museu de Francisco Tavares Proença Junior (permanent exhibition of superb textiles items from 16th to 19th century) and other antique fine textile museums worldwide.

 

PORTUGAL

Due to Portugal's pleasant climate, plentiful game and fish from the coast and rivers, this part of the Iberian peninsula supported a flourishing population in prehistoric times. Very few traces of this culture remain. Portugal was colonized by a whole range of civilisations, the first one being the Celts who settled the Iberian Peninsula around 700BC. After the Celts, the Phoenicians traded from the site of present-day Lisbon and the Carthaginians and Greeks set up trading posts along the southern coastline. 
After the Second Punic War (218 to 202BC) when the Iberian peninsula was annexed by the Romans, the region came under a kind of unified control for the first time. Despite the subsequent colonisation of much of the country and the building of roads, aqueducts and elegant bridges, very few remnants of the Roman period can be seen in modern Portugal.  The main Roman contribution was the system of vast agricultural estates established in the Alentejo and the introduction of new crops that were to become the mainstays of the Portuguese economy, namely wheat, barley, olives and grapes. At the onset of the 5th century AD the Iberian Penninsula was invaded by Germanic tribes. The Visigoths imposed their rule but in the north of the region the Suevi established a kingdom that lasted until late in the 6th century when they too came under the rule of the Visigoths.  In 711AD the Visigoths were in turn defeated by the Moors. 

The Moors
During the 8th century, the Moors crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and invaded the Iberian Peninsula. This invasion had a lasting effect on the country, as the Moors introduced their culture, architecture  and agricultural techniques to Portugal. In the South of Portugal,  place names and people's features still act as reminders of these times. Moorish rule lasted until the 12th century, when Christian forces moved
south and overran the Moorish towns and castles. 
The leader of the Christian forces, Afonso Henriques, was now called the first king of all Portugal. Numerous cathedrals were built to commemorate their victories over the Moors. By the mid 13th century, the Christian conquest was complete, and fledgling kingdoms of Portugal extended to its current borders. 

The Age of Discovery, and Napoleon
Once the kingdom of Portugal was established, the Portuguese kings turned their attention to maritime adventures that would provide them with great colonial wealth. Prince Henry the Navigator started a famous school of navigation and launched the Age of Discovery. 
These adventurers led expeditions into Africa looking for wealth and glory, as well as a mysterious messianic figure named Prester John,  the ruler of a Christian paradise. Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape 
of Good Hope in 1487, and in 1498, Vasco da Gama reached Calcutta. Portugal established numerous colonies along the East African and Indian coasts and Pedro Alvares Cabral sailed to Brazil.  The Portuguese Empire had spread over four continents by the mid
16th century. The wealth of the empire was boundless and Portugal was at the height of its influence, but the glory was not to last and the country became debt-ridden. Portugal then came under Spanish rule, a situation which was to last for a period of 60 years.
By 1640, the Portuguese took back the throne when a member of the House of Braganca was instated. Joao IV was, however, merely an enlightened 
despot who squandered money on massive, flamboyant architectural projects. Later on in 1807 when Napoleon's army invaded Portugal,  the royal family fled to Brazil and only returned when the French 
were driven out in 1821. As the empire disintegrated with Brazil's declaration of independence, and with in-court fighting,  the Portuguese monarchy was doomed.

CASTELO BRANCO

Of ancient origin, Castelo Branco was refounded by the Templars in the early 13th century. Occupying a low hill at the centre of flat lands just 18 km from the Spanish frontier, it has been known for its embroidered colchas or bed-spreads since the late 1800s, a fine range of which can be seen in the local museum. With its broad avenues, large squares and a pleasant air of prosperity, the town is a very good base from which to explore the border region of Central Portugal. Ancient war arena for Templar Knights who founded here the bastions of Castelo Branco, this forgotten place during centuries of war, fights and invasions has determined the existence of a people with unique dialect and traditions, great hospitality and a heart as big as the granite boulders or the vastness of horizons. Its geodiversity was studied since the endof the 19th century by famous geoscientists, such as Nery Delgado, Orlando Ribeiro, António Ribeiro or Adolf Seilacher; and well narrated by the best Portuguese writers, such as José Saramago, Miguel
Torga or Fernando Namora.

What to see: Castelo Branco's top attraction is without doubt the extraordinary Episcopal Gardens beside the former bishops' palace. Laid out in the mid-18th century, the gardens are a rare sight, planted with a host of profane little granite statues amidst well-trimmed boxed hedges and orange trees. The museum inside the palace houses 16th-century tapestries and fine examples of Portuguese primitive art. Dating back to the 13th century, the Church of São Miguel served as the town's cathedral from 1771-1881 before the bishopric was extinguished.

MUSEU DE FRANCISCO TAVARES PROENÇA JÚNIOR

It occupies the former Bishops Palace of Castelo Branco, a building which was repeatedly adapted until the instalation of the museum in 1971. The original nucleus was originally based on the archaeological collection of Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior, later reinforced by pieces from the Bishop´s Palace and successively enriched with collections of coins, Roman and Visigothic goldsmithery, arms and with the famous Castelo Branco bedspreads, belonging to the Vilhena collection.The museum is now offering a display focusing two themes: the bishopric history and the embroideries of Castelo Branco. These themes are divided by sections on silk, the embroidery in civil and religious garments, and the embroidered Castelo Branco and Indian-Portuguese bedspreads.

CASTELO BRANCO BEDSPREADS

‘The bedspreads from Castelo Branco, of oriental inspiration, have been known at least since the middle of the 16th century.  Similar to the bedspreads from Toledo and Guadalupe, these have for centuries been a key piece in any bride’s trousseau, either plebeian or noble. These bedspreads are made of linen and embroidered in silk thread, and their decorative elements carry a unique symbolism

Produced with great detail, the various flower motives fill the hand-embroidered silk on linen. A colour feast, true to the palette of this region, takes over our senses, filling the drawing in harmony. This piece is inspired by many of the floral decorations present in the works from this region. The Castelo Branco embroidery is one of the icons of this region, its motives spread across the city, from pavements to tileworks, going back to the 12th Century. Originally these were part of any bride's dowry, regardless of her social class. The art of dying silk is an old tradition, with its peak on the 18th Century.This one - a true museum item and a small piece of european historical heritage - more than a century old, is a beautiful and rare coverlet with a gorgeous palette of colors..

Aux premiers jours de son existence en tant que nation, le Portugal était déjà un lieu de coexistence entre différentes cultures (Chrétiens, Musulmans et Juifs).Mais ce fut le contact avec des civilisations très diverses, au cours des XVe et XVIe siècles, qui fit du Portugal un exemple vivant d'échanges entre l'inspiration nationale et européenne et les habitudes et les modèles artistiques d'autres continents. Cet exotisme se dégage encore aujourd'hui des rues d'une ville comme Lisboa et imprègne les collections des musées. Il est visible dans les pièces africaines en bois et en ivoire, dans les meubles indo-portugais, dans la porcelaine de Chine décorée au goût européen, dans les fameux paravents japonais Nambam, qui illustrent l'arrivée des Portugais et leurs coutumes ainsi que dans les magnifiques et séculaires dessus de lit manufactures depuis des siècles à Castelo Branco où l’Europe rencontre et redécouvre encore et toujours la l’Inde si proche et si lointaine.

Embroidery Castelo Branco конструирует дату от й2тю столетия. Это будет роскошным продуктом, bespoke handmade artisans в работая музее, использующ полотно сделанное на тени и вышитое с silk резьбами.

यह एक -- एक सच्चे और एक छोटा संग्रहालय मद टुकड़ा यूरोपीय ऐतिहासिक विरासत -- एक शताब्दी से भी अधिक पुरानी है , यह एक सुंदर और दुर्लभ coverlet के साथ एक भड़कीला रंग पैलेट

اكثر من 100 عاما ، كنز يدعي انه موجود!

Dimensions: 2,2 m x 2,05 m

Condition:  VERY GOOD+

Of the few pieces known to us today from this age, almost all are now Museum pieces!

MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD, A TREASURE THAT CLAIMS TO BE FOUND!

豪華な19世紀の手作りのベッドカバーカステロブランコ！
法外な金の刺繍リネン世俗の財宝を！

Luxe 19e eeuw handgemaakte bedspread Castelo Branco!
linnen extravagante gouden borduurwerk een seculiere schat!

豪华19世纪手工bedspread布朗库堡！
亚麻奢华的黄金刺绣一个世俗的珍惜！

Πολυτελή 19 ου αιώνα, χειροποίητα bedspread Castelo Branco!
λινά εξωφρενικές Gold κεντήματα ένα κοσμικό θησαυρό!

Luxe 19e eeuw handgemaakte bedspread Castelo Branco!
linnen extravagante gouden borduurwerk een seculiere schat!

Роскошные 19 века ручной работы покрывало Кастело Бранко!
белья экстравагантных золотого шитья светских сокровище!

ترف القرن التاسع عشر اليدويه المفرش كاستيلو برانكو!

الكتان باهظه الذهب والتطريز علمانيه كنز!

Like Rene Lalique Glass Figurine, the Imperial Fabergé Easter eggs, The Sevres Porcelain, the porcelain vases from the Ming dynasty, the 18th century Companhia das Índias porcelain, the Ardabil Persian rugs (there is an 'Ardabil' at 10 Downing Street and even Hitler had an 'Ardabil' in his office in Berlin) or Hollywood Rodeo Drive Berverly Hills Pretty Women, the Castelo Branco’s bedcovers are and were made to ornate palaces, fairytale castles, houses of lords and worldwide magic kingdoms.

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY

TO BE THE PROUD OWNER OF

A GENUINE MASTERPIECE OF

THE 19th CENTURY EUROPEAN FINE ARTS