Maraş Copper Craftsmanship

Maraş copper craftsmanship is a traditional handicraft produced by hammering and decorating copper sheets with a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm in Kahramanmaraş.

Maraş copper craftsmanship belongs to the group of handicraft products excluding carpets, kilims and textiles. It has been registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office as a "geographical indication". A geographical indication is a mark that identifies a product as originating from a specific region, area or country due to its distinctive qualities, reputation or other characteristics. This registration confirms the strong association between the reputation and craftsmanship of Maraş copper craftsmanship and the Kahramanmaraş region.

^{Maraş Copper Craft (}Kahramanmaraş İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü⁾

Maraş copper craftsmanship is used in the production of various household and kitchen items such as pots, pans, jugs, teapots, trays, kettles, ladles, bowls, oil containers, bread boxes, soup vessels, ashtrays, grills and scoops, as well as decorative items such as candlesticks, decorative pomegranates, decorative horses, planters and vases. The handles, spouts and grips of copper items made by hammering are typically produced using casting techniques from metals such as bronze, iron and brass. The history of Maraş copper craftsmanship dates back to the Anatolian Seljuk period and holds an important place in the culture and economy of Kahramanmaraş. Its production requires high levels of skill, particularly in the hammering technique.

Maraş copper craftsmanship uses copper sheets with a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Traditionally, production is carried out manually using the hammering technique, although machine production is also possible. Machine use is generally limited to the die-making and shaping stages, while decoration is done by hand.

1. Shaping: Copper sheets are hammered between an anvil or hard object and a wooden mallet to achieve the desired dimensions. Parts shaped with a wooden mallet and reaching a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm are hardened by further hammering with chisels and mallets. This hardening allows patterns to be easily engraved onto the copper surface.
2. Annealing: To prevent cracking, distortion or excessive hardening during hammering, the copper is periodically annealed—that is, heated and then slowly cooled to soften it. Annealing is performed by heating the sheet over hot coals.
3. Joining (for Large Items): For large items such as cauldrons, the body is formed by joining one end of the sheet to the other in a cylindrical shape, and the seam is welded by hammering. The base of the cauldron, made from a separate sheet, is also welded to the body by hammering.
4. Reinforcing the Rim (for Large Items): A metal ring may be inserted along the rim to increase durability. The metal ring is placed inside the rim and the edges of the cauldron are bent inward to secure it.
5. Manufacture of Handles, Spouts and Grips: The handles, spouts and grips of copper items made by hammering are typically produced using casting techniques from metals such as bronze, iron and brass.

^{Bakırcı Dükkanı (}Dijital Kültür ve Turizm Envanteri⁾

Raw material in ingot form is melted in copper wire drawing furnaces and cast into molds. It is then passed through rollers to adjust the thickness according to the product requirements. The copper hardens during rolling and is subsequently annealed in ovens to produce copper sheets with a thickness of 0.50 to 1.5 mm.

• Shaping (Spinning or Pressing Technique): Spinning Technique: Sheets are cut into circular shapes using circular shears according to the product dimensions. These sheets, called plates, are shaped on spinning lathes according to the product type. The artisan shapes the copper plate, fixed between rotating cylinders powered by a motor, using metal and wooden shaping tools held in each hand.
• Pressing: This method is commonly used for producing tourist souvenirs and some kitchenware. Eccentric or hydraulic presses are employed. In eccentric pressing, the mold for the desired product is mounted on the press machine and the shape is imprinted onto the copper sheet through pressure. Hydraulic presses are used for larger items; the copper sheet placed between male and female molds takes the desired shape under the press’s force.

After hammering or molding, burrs are removed from the product. Items are decorated using either embossing or engraving techniques.

• Embossing Technique: The desired patterns are drawn on the product using a pencil. These lines must not be too deep to allow for corrections. Once the drawing is completed without errors, the product is placed on a cushion-like support. The areas surrounding the motif are hammered inward to make the motif stand out in relief.
• Engraving Technique: Patterns are created by striking the copper surface with specialized engraving tools that have various motifs on their tips.

After decoration, Maraş copper craftsmanship is tin-coated and polished, making it ready for sale.

The geographical boundary of Maraş copper craftsmanship is defined as Kahramanmaraş Province. The entire production process, particularly the skilled hammering and decoration techniques, must be carried out within the administrative boundaries of Kahramanmaraş.

^{Copper Handcrafting in the Hands of a Master}

An application for the geographical indication registration of Maraş copper craftsmanship was submitted by the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The application, numbered C2021/000288, was filed on 16 July 2021. Following the evaluation process, the product was officially registered as a "geographical indication" on 23 March 2023 under registration number 1346. The registrant’s address is recorded as İstasyon Mahallesi, İlahiyat Caddesi No: 7, Dulkadiroğlu, Kahramanmaraş.