(i) Santíssima Virgem (Blessed Virgin) – an antique laced print from 1901, made of natural damask, embroidered with silk, sequins, gold thread, gold canutilho (purl) and golden braid;
(ii) Santo Ambrósio (Saint Ambrose) – a print attributed to the 17th century, made of cotton damask, embroidered with silk, sequins, gold thread, gold canutilho and golden braid;
(iii) Santa Ana e Nª Srª encimadas por anjos (Saint Anne and Our Lady, crowned by angels) – a print made of natural damask, embroidered with silk, sequins, gold thread, gold canutilho and golden braid;
(iv) Santa Emília, virgem mártir (Saint Emmelia [of Caesarea], virgin martyr) – a water-coloured print attributed to the 17th century. The image is encircled by flowers in a patra serrated pattern on natural damask, embroidered with sequins, gold thread, gold canutilho and stones, recovered from an antique piece.
from: Fatela, Paulo – Mão com Alma, artes e ofícios tradicionais em Coruche, ed. Associação da Charneca Ribatejana, 2014, pp. 17-18.
Photo credits: Carlos M. Silva
The Santinhos or Registos are devotional prints that represent an important expression of popular religious practice in Portugal. Originally derived from the miniatures or illuminations found in medieval manuscripts, these images—typically depicting God, Our Lady, and the saints—were cut out from worn pages and repurposed as devotional objects. With the advent of the printing press in the 15th century, it became possible to produce these registos on paper using techniques such as woodcut, engraving, and lithography, thus enabling their widespread distribution at an affordable price.
These objects of devotion not only served to adorn homes and shrines but also functioned as protective symbols and markers of significant life events (such as baptisms, first communions, and other religious ceremonies), as well as accompanying festivities and pilgrimages. Over the centuries, the registos have maintained their essentially devotional character, while today they also boast a strong decorative appeal, blending traditional techniques and materials with more contemporary designs.
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