The Metalsmith Guild
Image depicts a goldsmith workshop in 1641 and is in the public domain.
In the middle ages, groups of merchants or craftsmen would join together with others with the same job skills. These organizations were known as guilds. Belonging to a craft guild provided status to the member. After working many years, first as an apprentice, then as a journeyman, an aspiring craftsman had to produce a masterpiece that met the high standards of the guild before he could be admitted to the guild and be allowed to call himself a Master Craftsmen.
Guilds had strict rules regarding quality of the work produced and the prices one could charge. Today this would be called a monopoly. No one could practice a particular craft unless they were a member of the appropriate guild.
For a more complete description of the role guilds played in medieval culture, I encourage you to visit Medieval Guild.
Guilds had strict rules regarding quality of the work produced and the prices one could charge. Today this would be called a monopoly. No one could practice a particular craft unless they were a member of the appropriate guild.
For a more complete description of the role guilds played in medieval culture, I encourage you to visit Medieval Guild.
Charles Koivu, a True Master Craftsman
My parent's agate shop in Copper Harbor. The coppersmith's shop was on the right and set back in the trees.
Charles Koivu was a coppersmith who had a shop next to my parents' agate shop in Copper Harbor, Michigan. For a long time I thought his name was "The Coppersmith." I loved to visit him and help him feed the chipmunks at the back door. He used to shoot a bow and arrow, and I would run to fetch the arrows for him. Later my dad bought me my own set. On the days he sold a hundred dollars or more of copper pieces, he would come into our shop and buy an Eskimo Pie to celebrate.
Koivu was a true artisan. He created beautiful, handmade copper bowls, cups, and trays by hammering the copper with different sizes of hammers he designed himself. His Finnish ancestors were also coppersmiths, going back at least four generations.
Here is an interesting newspaper article written about him in 1961.
Charles Koivu, Coppersmith
Koivu was a true artisan. He created beautiful, handmade copper bowls, cups, and trays by hammering the copper with different sizes of hammers he designed himself. His Finnish ancestors were also coppersmiths, going back at least four generations.
Here is an interesting newspaper article written about him in 1961.
Charles Koivu, Coppersmith
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At some point my dad, Eino Miller, also decided to work with copper. He liked to add etchings to some of the bigger pieces. This is a sample of the collection he had. |
Eino Miller's copper pieces.
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Hammered Copper Pieces Make a Great Gift
Hammered Copper Moscow Mule Mugs - ad
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Hammered Edge Copper Serving Tray - ad
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Hammered Copper Pitcher - ad
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The Art of Copper Enameling
Copper Enameling is both an art and a craft. I learned it from my mother and have passed it on the my youngest daughter. Follow the link to learn more about this unique and fascinating art form.
Copper Enameling is both an art and a craft. I learned it from my mother and have passed it on the my youngest daughter. Follow the link to learn more about this unique and fascinating art form.
Background image courtesy of GRSites.com.