pottery and ceramics were part of indigenous life in brazil prior to the colonization, a form of art that is still apparent in many modern day carioca creations - with the arrival of the portuguese, new and more modern production techniques were introduced, thus expanding the range of materials that could be used to create objects.

later, international artistic influences shaped the styles and design of major productions, trickling down to smaller and simpler objects.

economics ups and downs stimulated the production of objects as well, using recycled materials, which is still very apparent to the keen observer - for instance, purses made with parts of soda cans and sold everywhere along the main beaches in rio.