Maria João Bahia
Jewellery maker
Lisbon, Portugal
Recommended by Joana Vasconcelos
A leap of faith
- Maria's workshop is located in a beautiful historic building
- She has been passionate about making for 30 years
- She considers her workshop to be her creative refuge
Maria João Bahia was 23 years old and on a path to a career in law when she dropped out of university. After studying design and practising jewellery making in a then male-dominated craft, she bought a small workshop from an old artisan. Maria started repairing jewellery for friends before creating unique pieces of her own. She opened her first shop in 1998 in a “leap of faith”. Her courage paid off. Today, Maria works with her team in a heritage building in Lisbon’s prestigious Avenida da Liberdade. Her endless creativity attracts a sophisticated global clientele and has enabled diverse creations such as trophies for the Portuguese Golden Globes, a reliquary for the Pope and gastro-jewellery for Michelin-starred chefs.
Scopri il suo lavoro
INTERVIEW
I love to express a client’s story in a unique piece of jewellery. It is also an amazing journey to transform an old item into a contemporary one. This happens in my workshop and I really enjoy doing the hard work along with the craftsmen I have trained.
My father, João Charters de Almeida, was my most important master. As a sculptor, artist and professor he created art on a large scale and somehow influenced me to do art on a smaller scale. He inspired me to imagine jewellery in a broader way.
From my experiences, my clients’ stories but also from Portugal’s rich history, as one of the first countries to discover the oceans. I feel strongly connected to my country and love using traditional crafts and techniques in contemporary ways.
I have been blessed with quite a few! One was when Mr Hubert Hermes requested a necklace for his wife with the teeth of a lion. Another was creating a reliquary for Pope Benedict XVI and my emotion when he kept it in his private chapel.
Maria João Bahia
Jewellery maker
Lisbon, Portugal
Recommended by Joana Vasconcelos
AVAILABILITY
Monday to Friday 10:00-20:00; Saturday 11:00-19:00
PHONE
+351 213240018
LANGUAGES
Portuguese, French, German, English
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