Creating Copper Bowls

The word art usually recalls images of a painting, but the people in Erica Stanley’s class learned how to construct a different type of art on Feb. 9: copper bowls.

The five-hour session cost $85 and included the materials and lesson hosted at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design in Fredericton.

David Oldsman, a blacksmith, came to learn how to work with copper, as he’d mostly worked with steel.

“For example, I want to make forged cattails,” Oldsman said. “They’ll have a steel stalk, but I thought copper for the flowery part would look kind of neat. So I’m hoping what I learn will help me deal with that.”

To make the copper bowl, participants started with a 5 inch copper square. After watching Stanley demonstrate, they sawed the metal into a circle using a hack saw.

Stanley is a trained goldsmith by trade and owns Queenstown Goldsmiths with her husband, Aidan. She also teaches part-time at the New Brunswick of College of Craft and Design and hosts classes like the copper bowl lesson.

Once participants sawed the copper into a circle, they filed down the sharp edges to make it smooth.

Then, it was annealed. Using a propane torch, participants heated the copper, making it malleable for the next step.

The process of annealing is mesmerizing as it reveals an array of colors caused by the torch’s heat.

It was then placed in cold water to cool and sent to the hammering room to be shaped.

This part of the process is individual, as each person hammers to the type of bowl they want. Some like a shallow dish, while others want a deep bowl. After adding decorative sticks or beads, they’re done.

The finished copper bowls can be used for many purposes, like jewelry holders, sage burners, or simply displayed as art.

Louise Farr, a participant, said the class was a Christmas gift from her husband. As her first time working with copper, she’s going to use her piece for smudging when finished.

I find when you learn something manually – whatever is it, let it be carpentry, or plumbing or whatever – it’s a skill set that will stay with you forever,” said Farr.

“And I say that to younger people: find a trade to do. It’s something that you’ll always have. So that might come in handy later on – I’m learning about new tools.”