21st Century Metalsmiths
Beehive Handmade began in a tiny studio in the pantry of Jim Dowd’s and Sandra Bonazoli’s house in 1999. Jim had been making large sculptures, as well as fabricating architectural metalwork for customers like Bill Gates. Meanwhile, Sandra was showing one-of-a kind jewelry in galleries. Eventually they became more interested in making objects for people to enjoy in their daily lives at home, instead of work to appreciate in galleries.
They were inspired by the kitchenware they found in old homes and flea markets, and asked “Why are the useful objects made today so plain, when they could be decorative too?” So they made their own kitchenware that was as beautiful as it was functional.
Now Beehive Handmade occupies a 2000 square foot factory space and produces thousands of objects every year. Each product starts as a hand fabricated original model, made out of brass, in the traditional way. Then the model is molded and cast in pewter at a local factory in Massachusetts.
Jim and Sandra are inspired by the folk art of many cultures, flora and fauna, beautiful cakes, and quirky old tools they find at flea markets.
