 
Easy to work with, durable, and decorative, copper is a beautiful
metal used with delight by millions of home handcrafters around the
world.
Copper is a warm metal and one of the most pleasing to the eye.
For sheer workability - such as bending, cutting, joining, and decorating
- copper has no equal.
Artisans, both professional and amateur, love to work copper into
attractive pieces of art, furniture, and jewelry. They hammer, etch,
stamp, chase, and emboss decorative plates, picture frames, wall hangings,
hinges, bracelets, pendants, and coiled wire necklaces into creative
shapes and effects.
Stained glass designers often use bronze cast grills to enhance the
beauty of their work. Sculptors often spend years perfecting abstract
figurines and statues from bronze, brass, and copper. Ceramic makers
use copper and bronze metallic glazes to enhance the brilliance and
impact of clay, creating an honest use of natural materials.
Handcrafts are often finished for protection and add a dramatic artistic
effect. Finishing techniques can include waxing, antiquing, painting,
coating, lacquering, enameling, variegating (heating copper over a
burner to produce a spectrum of colors), and oxidizing to bring out
the desirable copper patina effect. |
