Nuestras artesanias/Our copper handcrafted

Mexican history

Agent times

In pre-colonial times, local Indians mined for copper in various regions of Mexico including the state of Michoacan in Central Mexico and used it to manufacture all kinds of wares and artwork. In 1538, the Spanish missionary, Vasco de Quiroga, established various schools, hospitals and libraries to educate and care for the local Indians of Central Mexico. In Michoacan he came to be regarded as "Tata" Quiroga, where he taught local Indians to work wood and copper in a more efficient manner. In the town of Santa Clara del Cobre, copper smithing became the town's mainstay, eventually making it famous for these skills. By the 17th century, a great demand for hand hammered copper kettles (pre copper sink) made in Santa Clara, largely supported the economy of the entire town. By the 20th century, however, the demand for these kettles almost disappeared to the point where only a few trained craftsmen were still capable of producing objects of high quality in the traditional way.

Looking a way to sustain old copper smithing tradition forming.

By the 1940's the people of Santa Clara looked for new ways to sustain the age old copper-smithing tradition forming the equivalent of artisans guilds and cooperatives. A state supported development program based on artwork competitions to have copper art pieces recognized and rewarded in exhibitions caused a renaissance in the field. Artisans that produced traditional copper kettles started producing also more decorative plates, copper vases, sinks and stylized copper containers. Eventually, collectors as well as tourists who wanted to take an example of a prized craft home with them, have come from all over the world to purchase the beautiful and striking works of art and copper sink products that we make in copper mary.