Description

Viarco & The ArtGraf Line: Over a century of rich Portuguese heritage meets cutting-edge innovation in fine art materials.

The story of pencil manufacturing in Portugal began in 1907, when Conselheiro Figueiredo Faria and French engineer Jules Cacheux established Portugália in Vila do Conde. While pioneering writing instruments in the country, the factory faced severe economic hardship through World War I and the Great Depression.

A dramatic turning point came in 1931, when industrialist Manoel Vieira Araújo acquired the factory and moved operations forward under Vieira Araújo & Cª, Lda. Five years later, in 1936, the iconic brand name Viarco was officially registered. Under the guidance of António Vieira Araújo, the company focused heavily on research, refining production methods, and perfecting pencil quality.

In 1941, Viarco relocated to its current historic home in S. João da Madeira, bringing both its machinery and dedicated workforce to start a new chapter. By the 1970s, the company became fully autonomous as Viarco – Indústria de Lápis, Lda. Today, as Portugal’s sole remaining pencil manufacturer, Viarco blends over a century of traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge creativity.

That spirit of innovation lives on in the ArtGraf collection—a revolutionary line designed to challenge traditional drawing by fusing classical graphite with the fluid, expressive qualities of water-based media.