Indo-Portuguese Nobility, Goa, India (16th Century)*

Artist/Designer: Indo-Portugese

Project Location: India

Figure 1: House of Local nobility of Goa, consisting mostly of Hindu Brahmins who had converted to Christianity, built after the Portuguese arrived in Goa in 1510.

Figure 2: The Dresser is placed inside the bedroom. The women of the house cleaned themselves using water from the ceramic containers. The main bath was situated far from the rooms.

Figure 3: Ceramic baby bath

Figure 4: Living room of the local nobility. Though the Portuguese influence is obvious, many of these mansions also reflect a unique fusion of local and Western ideas.

Figure 5: Passageway next to bedrooms, often used by servants to take the waste out of the rooms.

Figure 6: The wooden toilet seat with cover, placed in the master bedroom of the nobility. The ceramic water tub and jug were used mostly for emergency use at night.

Figure 7: Toilet seat placed in the bedroom for use by the head of the house during night. It was cleaned by the house servants later. House of Local nobility. Location: Goa, India

Style/Period(s):
No Style/Period Assigned.

Primary Material(s):
Ceramic, Wood

Function(s):
Residential Structure

Related Website(s):

An Illustrated Tribute to the Beautiful Indo-Portuguese Houses of Goa | Accessed : April 8, 2020

Along with endless beaches, Goa is also dotted with beautiful old buildings reminding us of the Portuguese who ruled Goa for 450 years | Accessed : April 8, 2020

Houses of the local nobility of Goa, built during the Portuguese rule | Accessed : April 8, 2020

Lonely Planet, Goa Gajah | Accessed : December 1, 2020

Wikipedia Entry | Accessed : December 1, 2020

Goa Magic.com | Accessed : December 1, 2020

DailyHunt Post | Accessed : December 1, 2020

Duke of Goa | Accessed : December 1, 2020

Alamy- Photos | Accessed : December 1, 2020

TripSavvy Page | Accessed : December 1, 2020

BBC Article | Accessed : December 1, 2020

Atlas Obscura Page | Accessed : December 1, 2020

Significant Date(s):
16th Century

Additional Information:
The Portuguese arrived in Goa in 1510. Over the centuries, under Portuguese rule, a local nobility evolved, consisting mostly of Hindu Brahmins who had converted to Christianity. These converted Brahmins built grand Goan mansions having wide verandas, paneled ceilings, ornate private chapels with sculpted saints and cherubs, and window shutters decorated with oyster shells. Though the Portuguese influence is obvious, many of these mansions also reflect a unique fusion of local and Western ideas.

Publications/Texts in Print:

Davison, J.; Nengah Enu; Bruce Granquist; Luca Invernizzi Tettoni (2003). Introduction to Balinese Architecture. Tuttle Publishing.

Mathew, K. S. "INDO-PORTUGUESE TRADE AND THE GUJARAT NOBILITY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY : A CASE STUDY OF MALIK GOPI." Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 45 (1984): 357-66.

Maxwell, W. George. "Mantra Gajah." Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, no. 49 (1907): 71-86.

Pringle, Robert (2004). Bali: Indonesia's Hindu Realm; A short history of. Short History of Asia Series. Allen & Unwin.

Building Address: Fernandes Heritage House- Fort Area Salcette, Cotta Diasvaddo, Chandor, Goa, India and Menezes Braganca House, Guddi - Chandor Rd, Culsabhatt, Chandor, Goa, India

Significant Dates: Built 1821

Tags: Goan-Portuguese Houses, Bathroom solutions, Nobility, Archeological sites,, Bath culture, Bathing culture, Bathing, aqueous, hygiene, hygienic, health, Goa, India, Portuguese, Goa Gajah, 1821,

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