Montres e devantures: las orfebrerías en Oporto y su relación con el espacio urbano

Abstract

Imported from French fashion, devantures allowed the transformation and renovation of commercial establishments, adapting them to the new tastes of the XIX and XX centuries. Despite their aesthetic quality, some of these faÇades did not last and their memory is only preserved in the drawings that accompanied the work permits and, in more specific cases, in old photographs of the establishments they housed. These sources provide detailed information on the materials used, as well as those responsible for the projects. Based on the study of goldsmithery workshops located on the streets of Flores and Santo António (31 January), we intend with this article to demonstrate how these elements interact with urban space. The dialogue that is generated between the artistic façade and the street itself is analyzed, with the aim of capturing the view of passers-by and attracting them to the interior of the establishment.