BEST PORTUGAL BRANDS
Ana Águas article
The Gothic Gargoyle is a Portuguese reference in stone sculpture, in artistic stonework and in the recovery of heritage
Keeps the tradition of artistic stonework alive, transforming natural stone into sculptures, furniture, architectural elements and design pieces that reach all over the world.
In the Gothic Gargoyle the ancient art of stonework is worked on, with a contemporary look. Stonemasonry is the craft of working natural stone, giving it shape to create architectural elements, decorative or artistic. It is an activity that requires knowledge of the subject, precision and, above all, specialized hands. In Portugal, This tradition is closely linked to our heritage, and finds in Batalha one of the most emblematic testimonies of the importance of worked stone in Portuguese architecture, the Batalha Monastery. It is here in this limestone region that Gárgola Gotica develops artistic stonework and the conservation and restoration of heritage.
Founded in 1998 by Alzira Antunes, the company was born from a very personal connection with stone and the craft of stonework. Alzira grew up in the region and as a child accompanied her father in the quarries, where he began to become familiar with the extraction and transformation of natural stone. Later, decided to learn the trade at the Cantaria Artística School of the Batalha Monastery, where he deepened traditional techniques and gained knowledge that he would apply in his professional activity. Before creating the Gothic Gargoyle, participated in conservation and restoration work, including interventions at the Batalha Monastery. This experience was decisive in understanding not only the artistic dimension of stonework, but also the responsibility of working on historical heritage. When he founded the Atelier he took with him this knowledge and a desire to keep the craft alive., but also to find new paths.
Over the years, the Gothic Gargoyle has brought traditional knowledge closer to the contemporary language of design., although the name refers to antiquity, the company's universe goes far beyond the reproduction of past forms. Today he works in areas as diverse as architecture, the decoration, product design, art and heritage. Statues are created from their work, busts, coats of arms, logos and ornamental architectural elements, but also tables, wash basins, furniture and other objects, that show how natural stone can take on very different functions when crafted from a design approach.
Much of the production is made to order. An architect, designer, decorator, municipality, institution or private client can present a project, a drawing, a prototype or simply an idea. Before arriving at the workshop, you must select the most suitable block for the project at the quarry.. Depending on the challenge, the Gothic Gargoyle can resort to modern technology, but manual work remains fundamental, You need to have sensitivity to understand the matter and know how far you can take it.
And the Gargoyle took Portuguese natural stone beyond borders. The company exports a significant part of its production, directly or through partners, to the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East and several European Union countries. Along your route, has developed work for clients in the areas of architecture, design and decoration, also reaching projects associated with the world of fashion and luxury. Among his works are commissions for members of royalty in Qatar and the United Kingdom.
But, despite traveling far, the company remains deeply linked to the place where it was born. It is not limited to using a raw material that is abundant in the region, but working on knowledge that is part of Portuguese history and material culture. Stonemasonry is a craft that depends on specialized people and knowledge that is transmitted through practice.. Preserving it means ensuring that techniques, tools and ways of working stone continue to pass from generation to generation.
In Battle, the stone continues to be worked. But now you can follow very different paths than in the past., can become heritage, architecture, sculpture or design. And it is in this ability to take a traditional Portuguese craft and give it new forms and new destinations which is the identity of Gothic Gargoyle.
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