At the heart of historic La Fonda is our La Plazuela restaurant with more than 400 hand-painted windows. Each whimsical image, created by the hotel’s staff artist, is unique — from simple patterns to flowers, animals, birds and more. The windows are an icon for the hotel and they are symbolic of the artistic uniqueness of Santa Fe.
This hand-blown glass ornament was made at a small family-owned business in Krakow, Poland. First, a sculptor made a clay model (from an illustration provided by La Fonda) and hand-crafted a mold. Then the glass blower — whose workshop is in the family home — heated a clear glass tube and blew it into the mold. After it cooled, the ornament was removed from the mold and dipped in a silver solution to give it color. When dry, the ornament was passed to a convivial group of five women who have painted together for many years. Over tea and gossip they added the vibrant colors that give the ornament its individuality.
“Windows of La Fonda” is a genuine work of art based on La Fonda’s works of art! We hope you enjoy it for many years to come.