A set of 10 hand painted porcelain Vista Alegre dessert plates

A set of 10 hand painted porcelain Vista Alegre dessert plates, each painted in bright colours with a different exotic Brazilian bird within a gilt hand chased border, the reverse with the name of the bird species, ‘VA Portugal’ in green and ‘Made in Portugal’ in blue. Portuguese, circa 1970.

Vista Alegre was founded in 1815 by Pinto Basto as a porcelain and crystal glass manufactory of quality, in a town called Ílhavo near the Aveiro estuary because the area was rich in fuel for the kilns, clay, fine white sand and crystallized pebbles.  He was granted a patent by King D. João VI in 1824 and just five years later the title ‘Royal Factory’ .  This led to a golden period which culminated late in the 19th century.  The company continues to this day and still produces hand painted porcelain.