The Arts & Crafts furniture movement is associated with elegant oak furniture and oak dining furniture.  However, wood isn’t the only material associated with the era, copper became the premier metal for decorative ornament during the American Arts and Crafts movement, as it was finer and more attractive than iron, and less expensive and easier to work with than silver. Copper decorative wares such as hand-hammered lamps, chargers and candlesticks are iconic collectibles now, but copper is and was an ideal metal for architectural use. Builders use copper sheeting for downspouts, half-round gutters, and flashing. Copper is particularly adept at straddling the line between function and art. At Craftsman Farms, you can find stunning, motto-embossed fireplace hoods that are among the era’s most memorable works.

Copper is considered the oldest metal in use but is enjoying renewed popularity. Copper can be found almost everywhere in and around the house, from reproduction copper and mica lamps to copper basins in either the pantry or the garden. Although there are many beautiful reproductions of the objets d’art so fondly associated with the original movement, copper is also increasingly being used for functional items like range hoods, sinks, lighting, and architectural trim.

Copper is most ubiquitous in the kitchen. Especially popular are hammered copper sinks. Crafted out of heavy-gauge copper, these sinks are usually chemically patinated to stabilize the finish. Copper also creates a dramatic look when used for range and fireplace hoods.

Copper also adds a smart touch to faucets and decorative hardware. For the most part, these fittings are constructed of brass and bronze, and then finished with a coppery hue. Copper is a fairly soft metal. If left on its own, it will develop an attractive patina or coloration with age. Unfortunately, fingerprints and other human contact will make it blotchy and unattractive. That’s why patination is always recommended, a stable coating that creates the look of age.

Copper is a wonderful medium for decorative lamps and light fixtures, especially when treated to hand hammering and patination by a real artist. It can be paired with mica or art glass for a beautiful result. For today’s reproduction vases, chargers, and other tabletop accessories, you can easily find a hammered finish, but remember that some work is better than others. The Michoacán region in Mexico produces wonderfully affordable hand-worked copper. If you want to look closer to home, you can find artisans who imbue their own sense of the Arts and Crafts spirit in chargers, candlesticks, and vessels that often closely copy period originals. Other branch out in other directions, such as Repoussé, which is a hand-worked and hand-tooled technique that creates more figural, three-dimensional results and requires a superior level of craftsmanship.

Copper has also found a place in the garden, not only in birdbaths and fountains, but also in the water-channeling devices known as rain chains, which have channeled and stored rain water for hundreds of years. As a classic example of this, Frank Lloyd Wright incorporated a sculptured rain chain in one of his Usonian houses. These long linear skeins of rings, inverted bells, or fluted cups are certainly considered both a useful and beautiful addition to any garden.

Tags: Arts and Crafts, copper, copper pots, Roycroft, Roycroft copper

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