In the 16th century, visitors to a hilltop church in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, began to experience miraculous recoveries from their ailments. Today the faithful continue to make pilgrimages to the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud to ask for healing from the Virgin Mary, whose figure behind one of the church’s altars is sculpted from corncob-and-honey paste. Many visitors bring a silver charm – a milagro — as an offering of thanks for the miracle that the Virgin preformed for them.
The Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud – the Church of Our Lady of Health – holds a special significance for Alejandra Thompson, founder and creative director of Thompson. Alejandra grew up in Patzcuaro and holds cherished memories of her visits there. Generations of family members have been married in the basilica, including Alejandra and her daughter Samantha, the marketing director for Thompson.
To honor her treasured memories of this place of miracles, Alejandra has created Milagro, a bath basin whose name means “miracle.” Alejandra has incorporated a truly personal touch to the Milagro design with a heart-shaped embossing that symbolizes her deep connection to the church where miracles are said to occur.
The solid copper bowl is hand-hammered by Thompson craftsmen in Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico, where generations of coppersmiths have used time-honored, metal-crafting techniques for centuries. Thompson personally guides the creation of the pieces produced at its factory in Santa Clara del Cobre. No two pieces are exactly alike but each is an heirloom to be cherished for generations.
About Thompson
Thompson is the largest decorative metals product provider in the United States, with a focus on Copper. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, the company is family-owned and operated. Working with artisans in Mexico and India, Thompson transforms the highest quality materials into one-of-a-kind designs for the home. Each piece is handcrafted, unique and possesses a story that is all its own. For more information, visit www.thompsontraders.com.