Description
Mediterranean geography still has many secrets to unveil, and Portugal is no exception. In the territorial strip comprising the Beiras and the Alentejo (north-east/south-west) there was a seasonal agricultural and migratory phenomenon. The Beirã population (called ‘ratinho/ratinha’) travelled to carry out temporary agricultural work and then returned home. The name ‘ratinho/a’ came to be used to designate the faience made in Coimbra, which represented these social types. Characterised by its low cost, durability, and rich, appealing decoration, we often find the representation of musicians. This paper analyses seven ‘ratinho’ plates from the Museum of the Manuel Cargaleiro Foundation in Castelo Branco (Portugal), looking at these musicians from a social point of view and checking whether the musical instruments are related to the portability and practicality required by the migratory movement in question.
