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Luís Elias

Luís Filipe Gonçalves Elias

Luís Elias was born on 01/02/1963 in Caldas da Rainha. Descendant of a family of illustrious ceramist artists, from an early age began to devote himself to the art of working clay. Son and nephew of renowned miniaturists, he was also born with the gift and taste for sculpting small pieces that, for their perfection, seduce the most refined taste. Luís is Herculano Elias son, the late ceramist who recreated the typical figures of Caldas, and not only in fragile and delicate pieces based on frangible white clay. Luís Elias started in ceramics at 17 years old, in Secla, after having completed his studies at the Bordalo Pinheiro Technical School, where he had as a teacher the Master Rainho. At Secla, working in the glazing section, he was in charge of cleaning the “freights”, that is, the bottom of the pieces that have a fine relief. As an apprentice, he assisted with glazing and had to keep clean the boards where the glazed dishes are put to rest. He had as first Chief Joaquim Agostinho. The responsible for the modeling section to where he went next was Mr. Carlos Mariano. When Secla II was inaugurated, he went to work under the orders of João Torna, first in plaster modeling with electric lathe and then in the molds to the press. At the age of 20, Luís Elias leaves Secla, sets up his Ceramics workshop and begins to produce the famous movement figures of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro in miniature. About 5 cm high, we can get Caldas Nanny, the Cura, the Sacriston, the Saloio, the Saloia, the Zé Povinho, the Velha de Capote and Lenço, accompanied by a set of cooks who are the eminent caricatures of politicians at the time. He also created a series of figurines with regional costumes. Participates in an exhibition at Casino Estoril dedicated to young ceramists and with a representative piece of Zé Povinho, in terracotta, snatches the 1st prize. 1987. Luís Elias works for the national market, of which Algarve stands out. A curious fact: it makes “piggy banks” that exports in a very considerable number to …. which country? Germany, of course! Currently Luís Elias is working in white clay, with application of Engobes and glass.