Domingos Gonçalves, better known as Xavier, was born in the north of Portugal, but moved to the Algarve at the age of 16. He started working as a carpenter in Albufeira, but it was through the pottery workshop of his father-in-law, José João Velhote, in Loulé, that he entered the world of clay – a space with more than 100 years of family tradition linked to ceramics.
For decades, Xavier produced pitchers, containers for olive oil and olives, vases and, above all, alcatruzes – clay traps used by fishermen in the Algarve to fish for octopus. With the arrival of plastic, demand fell and pottery declined, leading him to dedicate himself to other activities. Even so, he never stopped keeping in touch with the art of clay, occasionally teaching curious visitors.
About ten years ago, with the support of the Loulé Criativo project, José João Velhote’s old pottery was recovered and Xavier returned to the trade. Today, it is mainly dedicated to the preservation and reinvention of the Algarve’s chimneys, once a symbol of status and identity of the region. Inspired by traditional shapes, he creates personalized and unique chimneys, which today serve as both a decorative element and a lamp for outdoor spaces.
In his workshop, pots, bowls, plates and vases are also born, as well as original trophies in the shape of a chimney, created for various sports competitions.
Currently, Xavier shares this path with his son António, a musician by training, who has embraced clay and already conducts workshops to transmit the knowledge learned from his father. Together, they ensure that the tradition of the Algarve’s chimneys remains alive, reinvented for the present and for the future.
