Mexican Arts Series: Hammered Copper

The author, who lives in Mexico, is an American pilot with eclectic. He has done a splendid job of photographing a great variety of copper pieces and also of the stages of production and the people involved in the family workshops in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan, Mexico. The text is not the focus but, rather, supports the visual presentation with information about history, locale, tools and process, trade schools established to continue the legacy, and The National Museum of Copper. The gallery of objects is followed by a directory of artists, a glossary, and a bibliography. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

See beautiful hammered copper vessels made long ago and today at Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico, a small town in the southwest state of Michoacan. From nothing more than a chunk of copper or sheet metal, artists here have spent centuries creating both useful and decorative copper items, with specially made hand tools and machinery. The richness of the work has undergone a marked improvement in design, materials, and finish during the second half of the twentieth century. Hundreds of copper items from the Museo Nacional de Cobre illustrate the art's evolution. 393 colorful photographs, an historical perspective, list and introductions to 540 copper artists, and detailed descriptions combine in this impressive reference. Be inspired to visit Mexico's Michoacan state and Santa Clara del Cobre, to meet the artists in their workshops.