Tiles from São Luís do Maranhão: History, Art and Heritage

The Facade Tiles of São Luís do Maranhão are symbols of the Luso-Brazilian heritage, combining aesthetic function and climate protection. They originated in Portugal in the 19th century and reflect Renaissance, Mannerist and Industrial styles.

Present in thousands of buildings, they are part of the city’s historical heritage, recognised by UNESCO.

History of São Luís façade tiles

The genesis of the tile dates back to the civilisations of the Near and Far East, where it was widely used as a decorative wall covering, especially for waterproofing masonry.

The technique reached Europe via the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Portugal, which developed a unique tile tradition between the 16th and 19th centuries, adapting tiles to architecture in a peculiar way.

Tiles and facades in São Luís do Maranhão
Expansion of use on facades
19th century: Apogee and aesthetic consecration
Trade contract and metropolitan preference
Functional and aesthetic use in urban homes
Notable examples
Types and techniques
Cultural aspects and recognition
Manufacturing processes
Variations and ornaments
Through the streets of São Luís: the art of tiles in pictures

1. Tiles and facades from São Luís do Maranhão

With the maritime discoveries and the Italian-Flemish influence, Portuguese tiles underwent significant changes.

In 1778, according to the historian Domingos Vieira Filho, 107,402 tiles arrived in São Luís, probably for use in churches or homes. Their use on façades became popular from the 1840s.

Azulejos e Fachadas de São Luís do Maranhão — Tiles and facades in São Luís do Maranhão

2. Extended use on facades

In the 19th century, tiles began to cover the exterior of buildings, leaving the interior of churches, monasteries and palatial residences. Coastal cities such as Belém, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and Port Alegre also adopted the practice, but São Luís stands out for the quantity and variety of tiled facades.

Azulejos na fachada de uma casa em São Luís do Maranhão

História dos azulejos de São Luís MA03:54

São Luís - cidade dos azulejos03:10

See History and Colonial Architecture of São Luís do Maranhão and Tourist Spots of São Luís do Maranhão – Tips and History and History and Chronology of Portuguese Tiles.

3. 19th century: heyday and aesthetic consecration

During Maranhão’s economic heyday, fuelled by the production and export of cotton and rice, tiles became a symbol of status and sophistication. As well as beautifying, tiles protected facades from the region’s intense rainfall. Many tiles were imported from Portugal, especially the tapete type, made using the estampilha technique.

4. Trade treaty and metropolitan preference

The 1834 Trade Treaty between Brazil and Portugal favoured the import of Portuguese china and tiles to the detriment of other European production centres. Thus, most of the tiles that arrived in São Luís between 1843 and 1879 came from Lisbon and Porto, with small quantities from France, Belgium and Germany.

5. Functional and aesthetic use in urban dwellings

Tiles were used to protect and adorn the facades of urban villas, which were constantly exposed to the rain. According to the researcher Santos Simões, “it was from Brazil that the new fashion for façade tiles came to the ancient metropolis – a curious phenomenon of the reversal of influences”.

6. Notable examples

Buildings such as Rua Direita, 397, , Rua do Ribeirão, 68 and Rua de São Pantaleão, 441 are notable for the modulation of the tiles with the architectural elements. The application of the tiles varied between total, partial or isolated ornaments, usually on the main façade, but also on the side façades of corner buildings.

7. Types and techniques

The tiles used on the facades were of the carpet or plain type, made using stamped, decorated, relief and marbled techniques. Most were 13.5 cm x 13.5 cm, with borders measuring approximately 6.75 cm x 13.5 cm and corner tiles 6.75 cm x 6.75 cm. The compositions varied and could consist of a single piece or a repetition of four rotating pieces.

8. Cultural aspects and recognition

The architecture of São Luís, characterised by the use of azulejos, contributed to the city being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. According to IPHAN, the city has more than 3,500 listed buildings in its historic centre. The tiled facades not only protect against the humidity and heavy rainfall of the region, but also reflect the Luso-Brazilian culture and the wealth generated by the cotton and commercial economy of the 19th century.

9. Manufacturing processes

The production of the tiles involved baking by pressing the clay into wooden moulds, followed by drying in the shade and a first firing. After glazing with lead oxide and tin, the tiles were decorated and subjected to a second firing to fuse the pigments to the surface. A third soft firing may be necessary. With the Industrial Revolution, production became mechanised, but manufactured tiles continued to be valued for their irregularities and particularities.

10. Variations and decorations

Tiles varied in shape, size, ornamentation and production techniques. Many were structured in single or grouped figures, with ornamental schemes of Renaissance and Mannerist origin. Some allowed for variations in composition, while others featured independent ornaments. Also noteworthy are the industrially produced tiles, such as the mechanical prints, and the reliefs, possibly made by the Massarelos factory or the Devezas factory.