HF Coors Mimbreno Letter Opener
Mimbreno China, designed by Mary Colter for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway and the Fred Harvey company in the mid-1930s, is considered by many
to be the most beautiful and collectible railroad china ever.
It was inspired by the pottery made by the Mimbres Indians in SE New Mexico
and SW Arizona during the 12th century, which was decorated with playful
animals and zig-zags. And it was created for the AT&SF by Syracuse China to
enhance the upgraded Fred Harvey dining car service on the new Super Chief
service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Mimbreno debuted in May of 1937, on
early runs of the Super Chief-Two, in the new dining car, the Cochiti. And
it became one of the longest-used china patterns in rail history, with new
dishes being made until 1971.
The absolute rarest piece of Mimbreno China was a letter opener-with a
decorated china handle and a copper blade hand-made at the Roycroft studio
(which, like Syracuse China, was in upstate NY.)
Mary Colter had just a few of them fabricated as gifts the year the pattern
debuted. And her Mimbreno letter openers were never made again.
Until now.
Railway and the Fred Harvey company in the mid-1930s, is considered by many
to be the most beautiful and collectible railroad china ever.
It was inspired by the pottery made by the Mimbres Indians in SE New Mexico
and SW Arizona during the 12th century, which was decorated with playful
animals and zig-zags. And it was created for the AT&SF by Syracuse China to
enhance the upgraded Fred Harvey dining car service on the new Super Chief
service between Chicago and Los Angeles. Mimbreno debuted in May of 1937, on
early runs of the Super Chief-Two, in the new dining car, the Cochiti. And
it became one of the longest-used china patterns in rail history, with new
dishes being made until 1971.
The absolute rarest piece of Mimbreno China was a letter opener-with a
decorated china handle and a copper blade hand-made at the Roycroft studio
(which, like Syracuse China, was in upstate NY.)
Mary Colter had just a few of them fabricated as gifts the year the pattern
debuted. And her Mimbreno letter openers were never made again.
Until now.
