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Margarito’s work is identifiable by his innovative designs and the meticulous execution of those designs. He specializes in creating large vessels with modern designs. As a teenager, Margarito studied with two of the great masters of the art of hammered copper, Jesus Pérez Ornelas and Abdun Punzo Ángel. He recently constructed a spectacular hammered copper doorway to Bill Gates’ mansion in Baja California, and was featured in an article in “Conde Nash” travel magazine. Margarito takes great pride in his work and is committed to creating exceptional works of art.

Marta is considered one of the best artisans in the village in engraving designs on copper and has won many prizes at the national copper competition. She does her engraving work by covering a copper vase or plate with tar and using a nail to draw out the designs freehand. She then immerses the piece in acid to etch the design into the copper. Some pieces are then silver-plated and lacquered, others are left the natural copper color. Marta began working with copper at the age of fourteen and studied for a total of 10 years at the Casa de Artesanos and at CECATI, a world-renowned metal smith school in Santa Clara del Cobre. She also studied enameling at the Museo del Cobre. Marta, and her husband, Carlos are the proud parents of three children whom they recently adopted.

Among the artisans from Santa Clara del Cobre, don Jesus is beyond doubt the master of creating figurative images on metal. He is famous for the beauty and originality of his designs, and for the meticulous finish he gives to his work. Featured in the “The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art” exhibit which recently toured the US and Europe, don Jesus has traveled to South America and Asia to teach his skills as well as dedicating many hours to teaching young artisans in Santa Clara. Now in his mid-seventies, don Jesus continues to work with vigor and incredible skill. A gregarious story-teller, he says that the inspiration for his designs comes from studying ancient indigenous art work. Over his lifetime of creating extraordinary pieces of art, don Jesus has won countless awards. Many prestigious collectors include his work among their fine collections. One of his large pieces was recently acquired by the San Diego Museum of Man for their permanent collection.

José Pérez Pamatz - JP

From the time José was a boy, he studied the craft of hand hammered copper in the family workshop. He was taught by his father, Jesus Pérez Ornelas, a famous innovative metal smith. Jesus Perez’ work was included in “The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art” exhibit which recently toured the US and Europe. José gets his design ideas from observing plants and animals in nature. He executes those ideas with extraordinary skill. José began winning awards for his work at the age of 17. He has won many awards in the annual national competition for hand hammered copper, and he has also won an award for hammered silver in the city renowned for its silver work, Taxco, Mexico. José’s desire is for the magnificent hammered pieces from Santa Clara del Cobre to be recognized worldwide for the time, skill, and dedication that it takes to create them.

Napoleon Pérez Pamatz - NP

Napoleon is the son of Jesus Pérez Ornelas, one of the most famous coppersmiths in Mexico. Jesus Perez’ work was included in “The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art” exhibit which recently toured the US and Europe. Born in 1977, Napoleon consistently produces great works of hammered copper. His meticulously crafted pieces are adorned with images of the natural world around him. A shy and humble young man, Napoleon’s work bears tribute to his many years of study with his father and the intense pride the Perez family take in the quality of work that they produce. Like the rest of his family, Napoleon has won many awards at the annual national competition for hammered copper.

Abdún Punzo Ángel - AP

Abdún is one of the “titans” of hammered copper work in the village of Santa Clara del Cobre. His home and family workshop is down the street from the Museo del Cobre on the main street of town. Displayed on the steps leading up to his house are magnificent pieces of his artwork.Abdún has won countless first prize awards at the annual national copper competition. He works making very large, extremely difficult designs, and forming gorgeous smaller pieces out of fine silver. Several years ago, he was invited to teach in Arizona by the state blacksmith association. The members were amazed and proceeded to buy every piece of work that he had brought with him. His busy workshop is always full of many members of his extended family forming gorgeous hammered copper vessels.

Carlos Pureco Ángel - CL

Carlos Pureco Ángel works with his four brothers at the family workshop fabricating a variety of copper vessels, including the copper sinks sold by Artesano Copper Imports. Carlos also makes the plates, bowls, and vases that his wife, Marta Mondragón Acosta decorates.Carlos’ workshop is always very busy as he is in great demand for his work. An incredibly good-natured, friendly man he works extremely hard for his family. He and Marta are the proud parents of three children whom they recently adopted.

One of the great masters of Santa Clara del Cobre, Bricio’s workshop was featured on the PBS show “The Desert Speaks” in March 2005. The San Diego Museum of Man has one of his pieces in their permanent collection, and he has won numerous awards in the annual national copper competition. Beginning at the age of seven, Bricio learned the art of cobre martillado (hammered copper) from his father, Pablo Pureco Ramírez, a highly respected artisan who initiated the art of engraving animal and floral designs into copper. Bricio, a fifth generation coppersmith, has sold his work in Mexico, South America, Europe, and the United States. In the annual national copper competition, Bricio has won many prizes for his innovative designs and beautifully executed pieces. His work stands out for the unusual marble-like patina on his copper vessels and the intense care he takes in finishing the pieces. Bricio says, “The inspiration for my designs comes to me spontaneously while I am working the copper.” Bricio’s five sons work side-by-side with him in their family workshop.

Ramiro Saucedo Galván - CS

Ramiro has been working with copper all of his life. He and his son, Juan José, along with other family members, run a successful shop called “Casa Saucedo Ramirez” out of the front of their house. The family workshop is in the back. Over the years, Ramiro has won awards at the annual national copper competition. He has also been one of the primary artisans to sell to importers from the United States.

José Velázquez Correa - JM

In his thirty-one years of working copper, José has won over fifty prizes at the annual national copper competition. José also has a piece of his work represented in the permanent collection of the San Diego Museum of Man. One of José’s gifts is his ability to work in a wide variety of styles, and the prizes he has won have reflected this talent. José comes from a family of farm workers, but from a young age had a desire to learn the art of cobre martillado (hammered copper). He studied with some of the masters of the village: Don Ignacio Pureco Ramírez, Don Jesus Pérez Ornelas, and Don Etelberto Ramírez Tinoco. He then went on to teach his brothers and nephews what he had learned. José believes that he will continue to study and learn new things about his craft until the day he dies. Talking about his own experience working with copper, José says, “Once you learn a craft, then, in process of doing that craft, you can discover the art.”

Sergio Velázquez Garcia - SV

Although still a young man, Sergio has won many prestigious awards for hammered copper at the national level and has a piece in the permanent collection of the San Diego Museum of Art. He was also given an award for working voluntarily over 200 hours to teach aspiring artisans. As a boy, Sergio was invited to apprentice with Etelberto Ramírez Tinoco, one of the masters in cobre martillado (hammered copper). For four hours everyday after school and all day Saturday, Sergio worked with Don Etelberto for many years. One of Sergio’s trademarks is the deep red patina he gets from the copper. This is a risky technique because the copper has to be worked at a very high temperature and can easily turn brittle and make further work on the piece impossible. Sergio says, “Even though the work is very hard, I can express what I feel and gain a lot of satisfaction from working with copper. I do this work from my heart.” Sergio’s desire is to continue creating innovative designs and to help attract recognition and respect for the extraordinary work of the artisans from Santa Clara del Cobre.