António Paiva de Andrada sculpts cork as a master craftsman would carve stone or wood. A block of compressed cork reaches his hands, and with simple tools, he shapes it into elegant pieces—decorative, yet often functional. His designs, carefully crafted, can be admired and purchased in Évora’s historic centre, on Rua Romão Ramalho, at My Cork Design. Here, Luísa, his wife, welcomes visitors from all over the world, sharing the stories behind each piece with the warmth of the Alentejo people.
Both retired—Luísa, a former nurse, and António, once a sales inspector at Tabaqueira—found new purpose in their later years. Staying at home was simply too dull. At 57, António enrolled in a design course at the University of Évora and, in just three years, completed his degree. Cork, the region’s most iconic raw material, became the perfect medium for his creativity. Now, he designs and sculpts, while Luísa sells his work in their shop in Évora.
He speaks passionately about cork and its many uses—70% of which goes into wine stoppers. From the granules left over during production, compressed cork is made in local factories, such as the Azaruja facility. It is from these uniform blocks that António leaves his mark, elevating a traditional material and giving it a contemporary purpose—one that can grace homes and spaces anywhere in the world. From the Montado woodlands of the Alentejo, with Portuguese design and craftsmanship.
