For thousands of years copper has been present in the development of the major civilizations of the world. Even now copper is one of the most used metals in a great number of areas of our contemporary life. The common uses of copper are wide and various, they go from the pipes in our kitchens and bathrooms to the wiring of the electric web across our cities and the country. There is also a significant presence of copper in all the electronic gadgets we use every day, from the coffee maker to the PC on our desk. But these are not the only places, not the only forms copper can be present in our lives. For many centuries, artisans of a small town in Mexicos western mountains have made a living of making beautiful pieces of art from raw pieces of copper. These art pieces can take many forms; jars, flower pots, plates, sinks and yes; also beautiful handmade copper bathtubs. These bathtubs are made entirely from a few raw copper plates which are previously softened with heat from a wood fire and then, once the proper softness has been reached, they are welded one onto each other to be then hammered until the desired copper tub shape is attained. The manufacturing of each of these tubs is an sculpting task for the artisans. They usually work in teams and by using their hammers and chisels they patiently shape the copper plates, inch by inch, into the desired form of a bathtub. Once the shape has been attained then they proceed to heat the entire copper tub and then patina (clear or dark) is applied to the surface of the bathtub in order to protect it from water and the elements, making the lifetime of one of these tubs that of many years. At the end the result of all this patient and careful work of the Mexican artisans is one of the most beautiful and stylish furniture you can add to your bathroom. A copper sculpture made for soaking, one piece of art waiting for you to take a comfortable bath in it. |
