Nambe, New Mexico is a widely known place in the Southwest, and collectors of the tableware line (by the same name) are from virtually every continent. When in Santa Fe, we always stop into the Nambe store near the historic Plaza … it’s more like a museum than a shop. Nambe pieces have been exhibited in museums abroad as well as the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
It all started with Pauline Cable who came to New Mexico in 1939 as a young bride from Ohio. She and her husband at first ran a restaurant, and in 1950 she found employment with a small foundry of cast bronze and copper cookware located near Nambe Puelbo, a short drive north of Santa Fe. Within a few years, she had taken over the operation when the owner left the business.
This is where art, the love of form and sculpture and science meet. In partnership with her husband and a scientist from nearby Los Alamos by the name of Martin Eden, she created the Nambe line using Martin’s secret formula alloy of 8 metals that make up the famous luster and heat-retainment the art pieces are also known for.
Pauline designed bowls and serve ware with a timeless character that are still produced. As the company grew, designers were hired, and the Nambe line was sold to the Hillenbrand family who operate it today. Still family owned, using Pauline’s sensibility of form and sculpture, the pieces are now made at a foundry in India with the same metal alloy developed from the beginning.
If you were to look at Nambe designs today and compare them to those created in the 1950s, and throughout the years, there is a consistent organic, inventive look and contemporary feel.
We give Nambe gifts all year long … for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and shower gifts. And we feel so lucky to have discovered this lovely line of art that we want to share it with you by having a Valentine’s Day giveaway.
This time it’s for this darling, timeless Nambé Love Bowl.
This is such a romantic little piece that looks great with candy or dip for a party, or just as its own standalone decor. Ours is displayed on our living room table so we can admire it every day and think of Santa Fe and the beautiful Nambe area. We just love this piece and we hope you do, too. You can sign up and enter your information up until February 14, 2017 at noon.
Click here to enter to win our Nambé Valentine’s Day Giveaway
Wishing you good luck, and we’ll announce the winner on Valentine’s Day!
xo Amy & Mr.D
If you’d like to see more Nambe designs, here is the link to their main website. Other designs we LOVE are the curvo wine holder and cheese board with wood surface and metal alloy knife / accents.
