The Albuquerque Foundation in Linhó, approximately 25 km from Lisbon, led by Mariana Teixeira de Carvalho, has transformed a family holiday home into a museum showcasing the extensive ceramics collection of her grandfather.
“The Albuquerque Foundation aims at promoting the debate and reflection on the artistic, cultural and historical meaning of ceramic production,” reads the website.
The museum building, known as Quinta de São João, originally belonged to Brazilian civil engineer Renato Albuquerque, the grandfather of Mariana Teixeira de Carvalho. After his passing, the property served as the family’s home until Mariana decided to honour his ceramics collection by converting it into a museum.
One of the largest collections of Chinese export porcelain
Now officially named The Albuquerque Foundation, the museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese export porcelain, boasting over 2,500 pieces. However, Mariana Teixeira de Carvalho does not plan to display the entire collection simultaneously.
The opening exhibition, Connections, presents around 20% of the total collection. Instead of a chronological arrangement, the display is thematic, covering subjects such as Life in the East and West, Encounters, and The Spiritual Realm. Curated by porcelain expert Becky MacGuire, the exhibition will run until 30 August 2026.
“Our goal is to keep exhibitions rotating, with different curators offering fresh perspectives on the collection,” Mariana tells Time Out.
A multi-faceted cultural space
The museum is part of a larger cultural complex featuring multiple structures. The main, original building—once a family holiday home—now houses the museum shop, a restaurant, a library, and three artist-in-residence suites.
A contemporary structure, built from glass and wood, takes visitors underground, where they can explore exhibitions displaying pieces dating from the 20th century BCE to the 18th century CE.
At the back of the property, another modern building focuses on contemporary art. Its first exhibition, The Ever-Present Hand, by American ceramist and musician Theaster Gates, will run until 31 August 2025.
“Theaster’s work raises the exact questions we wanted to ask, ” Mariana states. “What was happening in the world when these pieces were made? What was happening in Portugal when we commissioned these works from China? That context needs to be explored. Learning from the past’s imperfections is how we ensure they’re never repeated.”
The opening of the Albuquerque Foundation comes at a time when Lisbon’s cultural scene is thriving. The reopening of the Museu do Design (MUDE) and the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian in 2024, along with the upcoming inauguration of the Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins (MACAM), are just a few of the latest additions to the city’s growing cultural landscape.
