The Jardim Negro collection comprises a series of black clay artefacts designed and produced by Daniela Caraman, a student in the Department of Design, Media, and Culture at the University of Aveiro. The work was developed during the UA.LABDESIGN 2.0 summer school initiative, University in the Villages, conducted in the Tondela region in 2024. As part of this programme, Caraman participated in the Black Clay Workshop led by Professor José Leite (University of Aveiro), which focused on traditional Molelos pottery practices.

The artefacts were conceived as an exploration of organic forms, derived through the application of mould-based pottery techniques. Their morphology was informed by the natural environment of the Tondela region and reflects a synthesis of local artisanal knowledge with contemporary design tendencies and methodologies.

Since March 2024, Barro Negro de Molelos has been recognised as a certified artisanal product under the National Registry of Certified Traditional Artisanal Productions (RNPATC). Molelos is currently home to seven practising potters who continue to preserve this centuries-old ceramic tradition, making it the principal hub for black pottery in Portugal.

Production Details

The clay used in these artefacts originates from the Tondela region. In its unfired state, the material exhibits a light tone. However, during the firing process—conducted in a wood-fired kiln at 900°C for approximately six hours—the artefacts acquire a black hue, resulting from the restricted oxygen environment inside the kiln.