The Making of an Heirloom

Dating back to pre-Hispanic times, a lesser-known but incredibly impressive art form emerged in Mexico: copper work. Copper is one of a few metals in nature that can be used directly, so people have utilized the material for thousands of years now. Early copper forms in Mexico were used for both utilitarian and ornamental objects, like tools and jewelry, as well as religious icons. And to think how this craft has expanded in scope and in reach. Today, much of our copper use is in buildings and the home, everything from tiles, cookware and household décor to utility. Unbeknownst to most, some of the highest quality copperware comes from artisans in a fairly small area in Mexico.

The Purépecha Indians in West Central Mexico (present day Michoacán and Jalisco) developed ways not only to extract the native metal from rocks but to form and shape it. They were among the most advanced coppersmiths at the time. The work of the Indigenous was slightly interrupted with the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century, when many towns were abandoned, but the Spaniards knew there was something special and quite valuable here. They also realized that the natives knew how to work the material.

A Spanish bishop by the name of Vasco de Quiroga brought different craftsmen from Spain to the Pátzcuaro area to develop the region’s economy. They introduced some European techniques to the natives (while keeping those that were already superior) and began setting up family owned workshops. And to this day, copper work has been passed down from generation to generation in this region of the globe.

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.”

— DIETER F. UCHTDORF

In colonial times, Santa Clara del Cobre was a center for copper crafts, and although there was a period in the 20th century where the art form was almost non-existent, the work here has survived and regained prominence. There are still hundreds of workshops employing thousands of workers in this magical town. Nowadays, the craft focuses on cookware and home accessories, things like pots and pans, mugs, vases, sink basins, and even bells. And copperwork is no easy feat, for most items take anywhere between four days to one month to complete and often require multiple people to heat the metal, turn, and hammer it.

But how lucky we are! Copper proves to be one of the home’s prized elements. This metal is an incredibly good conductor of electricity and heat, making it perfectly attuned for use in the kitchen. It is biostatic and antimicrobial, resisting almost 100% disease-causing bacteria when cleaned regularly. Between the work involved, the metal’s incredible attributes and the sheer beauty of that pinkish-orange hue, copper is surely an element in the home that can stand the test of time, a true heirloom for the ages.

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