
Weaving loom and traditional Arraiolos tapestry: meet the artisans behind Portugal’s ancestral arts
In November and December, the Portugal Pavilion honors ancestral arts and Portuguese know-how with live demonstrations by some of the country’s finest artisans. This week Portugal showcased its famous Arraiolos rugs – here’s what artisans had to share with Expo 2020 Dubai.
Arraiolos Tapestry Rugs
Maria Hortense Canelas has been sharing her craft with the world since 1985. At the tender age of 19, she brought a modern and innovative handcraft production house to life – now world renowned Tapetes Hortense.
Throughout the years, Maria reaped the success of her initial efforts and broadened the international reach of her brand. She traveled to the US to promote her rugs, attended the most important Portuguese Arts & Crafts fairs and exhibitions, collaborated with American Interior Designers and offered a specially designed rug to Pope Francis on a trip to Vaticano.
“Being in Dubai for Expo 2020 Dubai is yet another way for Arraiolos rugs and Portuguese culture to show themselves to the world. It is rewarding to represent this amazing art that means so much for the Portuguese! People value handmade products more when they realize the work it takes to make pieces like this, which take 3 months to produce. It is very gratifying to realize that there are other cultures that go to Arraiolos, who buy, recognize our work and thank us for it”, she said.
The Arraiolos Tapestry is a centuries-old tradition that has passed from generation to generation, recognized worldwide as a strong artistic statement of Portugal. These Portuguese needlework carpets are embroidered wool carpets, traditionally made in the small town of Arraiolos in the south of Portugal. They require two simple materials – town and pure sheep wool – which are dyed to color the motifs, and have their specific sewing stitch, the so-called Arraiolos stitch.
These rugs with Persian roots have been used since the 18th century to decorate houses, and have been changing their patterns and inspirations through time. Currently, the carpets are embroidered mainly by women, with a lot of precision and mastery. Each square meter of carpet can take between 12 to 18 days to design.