Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Coppersmithing (objects)

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • Market issues: Many of the traditional uses of copper (and brass and tinplate) have been replaced with plastics, or the technology has been superseded, making the trade redundant. For example copper (and copper-alloy) canteens have been replaced with plastic bottles, watering cans are now plastic, buckets are plastic, copper lanterns are now plastic torches etc. The everyday objects that were copper have largely gone from everyday life.
  • Competition from overseas markets: Copper bowls are still made in large numbers cheaply but using traditional methods in India, the Middle East and North Africa which means shops can carry large numbers of imported hand raised bowls at low cost which is almost impossible to compete with for UK based makers.
  • Loss of skills: As the manufacture of copper utensils moved from hand beating (or machine battery) to deep drawing in presses or to just copper plating steel utensils, it has meant that new entrants to the craft have had to work out how it had been done and tools were needed.
  • Market issues: The market is underdeveloped and people are hesitant to go into a career and craft that has a limited market. The market is developing but it does need someone or a collection of agencies to develop these markets.
  • Market issues: Time spent looking for markets (which do exist) takes time away from making.
  • Shortage of craftspeople: There is a lack of craftspeople, trainees and apprentices within coppersmithing. There are fewer than 12 people working with copper, and their skill level is not necessarily known.
  • Training issues: There is a desperate need to take on apprentices/trainees but there is a lack of funding to do so.
  • Perceived value of the craft: Makers will start working in copper and switch to silver because they realise they can charge higher prices because people are prepared to pay more for a higher value material (but not prepared to pay for the skills).

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

1
Add practitioner

Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.