In 1755, a violent earthquake devastated Lisbon and created a before and after in the archaeological record, with testimonies and experiences of the city of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries trapped under the rubble. The highly coherent faience collection at the Museum of Lisbon – Roman Theatre is a clear expression of the cataclysm.

The characteristic white and blue has been transformed into a black glaze that mimics the colour of the fire, giving these faiences a very different appearance from pieces from other places. These differences are visible in the comparison between the sets presented in this temporary exhibition. Organised into three sections – Casa de Fresco, the middle floor of the museum, and the archaeological area on the lower floor – each of these areas addresses a different aspect of the theme: the period's predilection for faience and the ostentatious display of wealth; the origins and characteristics of faience; the fire marks on the pieces and their archaeological contexts.