THE LINHA COLLECTION

Hand-painted Ceramic Tiles

Close-up of a hand-painted tiles from the Linha collection.

HAND-PAINTED CERAMIC TILES MADE IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL

The LINHA tiles, inspired by Brazilian Modernism, speak a conceptional and colorful language. Hand-painted individually, the tiles display a high level of quality and artistry.

design: Paula Gisler

craft: Viúva Lamego in Sintra, Portugal

STORY

Case study of a tiled wall installation with Giorgios tiles.

BESPOKE TILE INSTALLATIONS

In collaboration with our clients, we develop bespoke tile installations.

The LINHA tiles can be arranged in various combinations to create a unique spatial element to complement the surrounding architecture.

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CASE STUDIES

Case study with tiles on the floor from the Gion collection.
Image of a built-in Sofa with a wall installation with La Mola ceramic Tiles
Case Study of tiled bathroom with Gion Tiles
Case study of the Algaiarens collection as a pool covering.

THE COLOR WORLDS

Image of glazes to paint tiles.

The color worlds of the Linha collection are incarnations of inspiring places found around the world. Inspired by the local flora and architecture, each color world captures the unique color palette inherent to that place and conveys its essence through the vibrant paint on the ceramic tiles.

ALGAIARENS

Reference image from beach algaiarens on the mediterranean island of Menorca.

The bay of Algaiarens lies within the valley of La Vall, in the north of Menorca. The landscape is shaped by dense pine forests, wild scrub, dune systems, reddish rocks, and secluded beaches. The evergreen pines radiate a deep, dark green that contrasts with the lighter, fresher tones of wild olive trees, set against the bright, silvery sand. Together, the flora of La Vall forms the vibrant Algaiarens color palette.

The image is blank with a dark, solid background.

pino

The image is blank with a plain gray background.

caliza

A person holding a fork and cutting into a burger with fries and a drink on a wooden table.

oliva

Close-up of the hand-painted green algaiarens tiles.
Image showing both options of Algaiarens tiles in green and grey color.
Close-up of Distels and sand on a beach in Menorca.
Close-up of a green olive bush on beach in Menorca.
Facade of a Mediterranean stone house with green shutters.

GION

Image of Canal in the Manamachi district Gion in Kyoto, Japan.

This color world is inspired by the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan. Its streets are lined with traditional wooden townhouses, or machiya, where brown and ochre tones define the architectural atmosphere. The soft beige of sudare (bamboo blinds) and the luminous off- white of shōji paper contrast with the dark timber structures. The warm, earthy hues drawn from Gion are complemented by the subtropical forests and moss-covered grounds that envelop the city of Kyoto.

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shoji

sudare

machiya

Image of two tiles from the Gion collection.
Image of a ceremonial japanese stone garden in Kyoto
image of a temple in kyoto, Japan
Image of a temple in a green, dense forest in japan

LA MOLA

Image of a pine forest with mediterranean ocean in Formentera in the background

The limestone plateau of La Mola forms an elevated peninsula at the eastern tip of the Balearic island of Formentera. The crystal-clear, turquoise waters along Formentera’s pristine beaches contrast with the deep marine blue of the Balearic Sea. These two shades of blue are complemented by the vivid green of Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass species endemic to the Mediterranean. Surrounding the island, this underwater plant protects the coastline and marine life, playing a vital role in sustaining Formentera’s ecosystem.

posidonia

dark blue tile glaze

mar

light blue tile glaze

illetes

close-up of green, blue hand-painted ceramic tiles from the La Mola collection
close-up of La mola tiles in green, blue and white
image of cliffs in Formentera with blue sea in the background
Close-up of a wooden boat shelter on the beach of Formentera
image of posidonia in formentera

GIORGIOS

chapel in agios giorgios on cycladic islands Antiparos.

Agios Giorgios is the name of a secluded beach in the Cyclades. White marble pebbles line the shore, meeting the calm, clear blue water. Next to the beach sits a white chapel with a vibrant blue dome. Behind it, the glittering Aegean Sea stretches beyond the horizon and meets the pastel blue sky. This hidden little beach serves as the inspiration of the Giorgios color palette, composed of the crisp whitewash of the marble, the pale blue found in the local architecture and the deep, serene blue of the Aegean Sea.

A plain dark blue background with no objects or details.

aegean

celeste

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marble

image of blue and white ceramic tiles
image of hand-painted tiles in the colors blue and white
image of detail of antiparos chapel
image of the dark blue aegean ocean
detail of chapel on island of Antiparos

THE STORY

tile factory viuva lamego in sintra, portugal

MADE IN SINTRA

The LINHA collection is a collaboration between FRIENDS OF PAULA and the historic factory Viúva Lamego, founded in 1849 and now based in Sintra, Portugal. 

With over 175 years of expertise, Viúva Lamego continues the legacy of Portuguese majólica—the art of hand-painted ceramics. All tiles are hand-painted by the talented artisans at Viúva Lamego, just as they have been throughout the factory‘s long history.

image of tile samples in factory

FROM IDEA TO PRODUCT

When I first came into contact with Viúva Lamego for an interior project, I didn’t realize that this was the beginning of turning the LINHA tiles—an initially theoretical project—into a physical product. After spending several days in the factory in Sintra, getting to know the process and the people behind it, painting tiles, and experimenting with colors, a tile collection was eventually born.

linha tile pattern

INSPIRATION FROM BRAZIL

The idea behind the LINHA collection—named after the Portuguese word for “line”—emerged from a study of Brazilian Modernism, particularly the work of landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx.

In a playful attempt to translate his landscape architecture into a tile collection, we created a design in which a single line visually connects individual tiles, uniting them into coherent and versatile patterns. This approach opens up infinite possibilities for arranging the tiles into continuous, flowing landscapes.

image of lump of clay at tile factory

THE MATERIAL

The ceramic tiles are made from locally sourced clay from Viúva Lamego’s own clay quarry, which is situated near the factory.

Clay is a purely natural product that is created through decomposition of silicate-bearing rocks.

The tiles are fired at 960 degree Celsius and become extremely resistant through this process, withstanding heat, precipitation and uv-radiation while keeping their vibrant shine.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Illustration of three different basketball court floor panels stacked vertically, showing various panel designs for a gymnasium surface.

size: 14 x 14 cm

thickness: 9 mm

tiles per m2: 49 tiles

finish: glossy

use: internal and external covering (frost-resistant only on demand)

Please note:

All colours are batch produced and hand-applied. Therefore, the tiles can contain subtle variations in colour within each production and from batch to batch.

A black and white diagram of a human hand with labeled parts, focusing on the palm side, showing bones, muscles, and tendons.

one curved line

Black and white photo of a Mercedes-Benz 190E parked on the road, with trees and a fence in the background.
Diagram of a 45-degree angle inscribed in a circle with a square and a semicircle inside it, showing geometric constructions.

two curved lines

one straight line

HOW TO BUY

MADE TO ORDER

The tiles are made to order, meaning production will begin once the order is placed and a 50% down payment has been received.

CUSTOM DESIGN

Every project is unique and calls for tailored planning. We are happy to personally support you in bringing your tiled design vision to life.

SHIPPING

We ship Europe wide from Portugal. Lead times are generally 8-10 weeks for fulfillment. Transport times depend on location and method of shipping.

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