Tinstamping
(photos by Richard Gonzales)
Tinsmithing is one of the many trades demonstrated at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. New Mexico has a fascinating history with tinsmithing. When the American Army and traders came in the 1800s, they brought food and oil in tin cans, discarding them along the New Mexican countryside. This metal was salvaged by local craftsmen and worked into beautiful objects such as frames, candleholders and decorative boxes. This beautiful craft lives on today and is a part of New Mexico’s artistic legacy. Works of tin art can be seen throughout the site.
