LA CHAMBA
DOWNLOAD PDF

These beautifully crafted pieces of organic tableware were originally made by the Pijaos Indians of Colombia South America. They had perfected the technique by utilizing an ideal locally found material to make containers for religious ceromonies and the production of cooking, food storing and serving. View Images of This Here

The clay has always been extracted from mines located around La Chamba, Chipuelo and El Colegio villages in Colombia . With the use of donkeys and now bicycles and small trucks, the Indians transport the amounts of clay needed for the next batch production use to the workplaces. The clay is dried and converted into powder with the use of a mortar and all the impurities are removed by use of sieves. After that the clay powder is mixed with water to produce a soft and flexible dough ready for use.

The Pijaos and Panches South American Indians are the direct ancesters of the La Chamba artisans. In pre-Colombians times these tribes were divided into different social groups, each group however followed a common pursuit of perfecting the art of producing the characteristic black pottery. The pre-colombian objects found by archeologists in La Chamba are not at all different to the ones produced to this day by the artisans. So we can say that this tradition has been passed from generation to generation nearly intact.

Special respect is given to the women of La Chamba, as it is they who have maintained the tradition and continuity of the art. It is the women, with their soft and strong hands who give shape to the clay, and to the future security of their families. The future welfare of their community in their hands, as they form the clay with the knowledge that their unique art is admired on family tables around the world. The residents of these villages are honorable people concerned about their families, their traditions and heritage and the future of their children. Their unique clayware industry gives them the pride, independence and self respect that they have earned by following a tradition of self discipline, and hard work.

We at La Chamba Imports and The Environmental Home Store are grateful for the opportunity to be able to offer the products of these artisans.

Use:
Chamba cookware is practical as well as beautiful and is ideal for cooking and serving.  It can be used in the oven, in the microwave and on the stovetop (many recommend the use of an inexpensive heat diffuser when using it on an electric range). Do not expose your Chamba to sudden changes in temperature—such as moving it directly from the refrigerator to the oven, placing it in a hot oven (don’t pre-heat the oven), or placing it on a cold surface when it is hot.

Seasoning:
Before you use your clay Chamba cookware for the first time, the piece should be filled three-quarters full with water and placed in an oven for 30 minutes at 400ºF UNCOVERED. This usually seals the cookware, although a complete seal is sometimes achieved only after it has been used several times for cooking. Boiling milk in the vessel may help if it is still found to be too porous, but this is rarely necessary. All of the cookware and tableware can be used over any direct source of heat, including an open fire. Over time you will notice changes in color of the pot from exposure to the heat source.

Cleaning:
After it has been seasoned, Chamba cookware cleans easily. A quick soak and wipe down with a sponge or soft cloth is all you need to clean it. Cleaning in the dishwasher or use of abrasive cleaners is not recommended.

Safe:
There are no toxins used in the production of La Chamba dishes.  The pieces are not glazed and there is no lead in the clay. The smooth finish of the pieces is the result of painstaking hand-burnishing with stones.

Appearance:
Small imperfections in the finish and flecks of minerals in the clay are due to this handmade process and materials and can be considered a characteristic of the pottery. Mica in the surface gives the cookware the ability to heat evenly and not crack under temperature changes. Because the pieces are handmade (sometimes by different artisans) dimensions will vary from piece to piece.

*Several other items are available through the EHS Store that are not shown below.