1. Study of watermarks from paper factories
Third International Conference
on Watermarks in Digital
Collections
In memory of Gerard van Thienen
Paper Museum Terras de Santa Maria
Paços de Brandão
May 26-27, 2016
Study of watermarks from paper factories
in Tomar area
Maria de São Luiz Carreira, Lisboa.

2. Study of watermarks from paper factories in Tomar area
Watermarks Inventory
Handwritten minutes of the Parliamentary Sessions ( ).
Portuguese Parliamentary Historical Archives
folios
endpapers
fragments
Paper Provenance
Date of use

3. Paper factories along the Nabão River
Porto de Cavaleiros
Sobreirinho
Former cereal watermills
Bought by Bartolomeu Testa (Master Paper Making from Prado)
Adapted to produce paper
Prado
12 th c. cereal mills belonging to the Templar Knights
1710/1715. Lousã Paper Mill
1823 Francisco Roure started paper production
Marianaia
Former watermills
1839 Started paper production
By 1895 was the only unit along the Nabão River that kept its paper production exclusively handmade
Matrena
former watermills
1900 – Started paper production

4. Paper Units along River Nabão, Tomar
Porto de Cavaleiros
Sobreirinho bought in 1882
PRADO
Marianaia
Matrena
1875. Companhia de Papel do Prado, S.A.
(Prado Karton)
- Lousã Paper Factory
- Marianaia and Sobreirinho Paper Factories, (Tomar)
- Vale Maior Paper Factory (Albergaria-a-Velha)

5. Porto de Cavaleiros Fragments Date of Use: after 1880 WM information:
110 mm
Date of Use: after 1880
WM information:
Name of Paper Makers
Marino & Araujo
Quality: Almasso
1st
[Porto C] AVALLE [iros]
[Tho] MAR
Motif: Olive tree (branches)
WM Dimensions:
> 262mm x 343 mm
112 mm
173 mm
150 mm

6. Porto de Cavaleiros
…a possible reconstruction!
PORTO C
THO

7. Sobreirinho Date of Use: 1845 WM characteristics: Motif: Harp THOMAR
[18] 44
Testa
Italian origin
Paper Master at Prado
In 1882 bought by Prado;
Ceased production shortly after

8. Prado, < 1844

9. A “new” element: The crescent
Prado
A “new” element: The crescent
Use: Portuguese Parliament. Handwritten minutes ( )

10. Prado
WM Variations

11. Paper Mould. Prado, Thomar
WM Variations
Use: Endpaper
Paper Mould. Prado, Thomar
Display at Prado Paper Factory

12. Prado Paper Mould
Display at Prado Paper Factory

13. Prado WM
Use: Endpaper

14. Marianaia
Display at Prado Paper Factory

15. Marianaia The hight of letterforms are smaller
WM motif composition with and without crescent
The crescent is thinner (1st quarter)
The word “Thomar” with more space between letters

16. The WM motif: Olive tree branches and the crescent
Some considerations:
The WM motif: Olive tree branches and the crescent
This motif appears also in the WM of other factories:
Renova (Torres Novas);
Porto de Mós
Agricultural country: Rich in olive tree plantations
Farmers would sow, prune and reap according to the moon calendar.

17. Thank you very much for your attention
Our presentation is the beginning of a longer study
Meanwhile
We would like to add these WM to the Bernstein Database