Boneca Barriguda by Prazeres Côta - 16"

This "Boneca Barriguda", literally meaning "pot-bellied doll", is a unique piece created by Prazeres Côta, heir to one of the most emblematic families of Barcelos folk art.

Through this generous and deliberately expressive female figure, Prazeres evokes the women of Minho, still seen today at local markets and traditional festivals throughout the region. Dressed in her finest clothes and a vividly coloured dress, the "Boneca Barriguda" is shaped with the creative freedom that defines the Côta family: bold proportions, an almost theatrical presence, and a vision of Portuguese rural life that is both affectionate and playfully mischievous.

Why I love it

• A unique piece, somewhere between folk art and naïve art.
• A free-spirited, affectionate and slightly irreverent interpretation of the women of Minho.
• The deeply authentic character of each figurine, entirely handmade and signed by Prazeres Côta.

Details

• Unique piece
• Height: approximately 40 cm (15.7'')
• Weight: approximately 4 kg
• Handmade and hand-painted in Portugal
• Signed by the artist

More informations?

The Côta family is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic and charismatic names in the figurative folk art of Barcelos and the Minho region of northern Portugal.

Today, Prazeres, one of Júlia Côta's daughters, passionately continues the family tradition begun by her great-grandfather, João Domingos Côto da Rocha, creator of the legendary Galo de Barcelos, which became a symbol of Portugal.

Introduced to a wider audience at the Feira de Barcelos in 2018, where she received the Revelation of the Year award, Prazeres is now recognised as a rising figure in Portuguese folk art. The Pottery Museum celebrates her work through the "Geração Côta" exhibition, bringing together several of her creations from her own collection and from private collections.