Maraş Copper Craftsmanship

Maraş Copper Hand Engraving is a traditional craft product made by shaping and ornamenting copper sheets 0.5–1.5 mm thick using hammering techniques in Kahramanmaraş.

Product Profile and Geographical Indication Type

Maraş Copper Hand Engraving belongs to the category of traditional craft 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 identifying a product that is closely associated with a specific region, area, or country due to its distinctive qualities, reputation, or other characteristics. This registration affirms the strong link between the reputation and craftsmanship of Maraş Copper Hand Engraving and the Kahramanmaraş region.

Maraş Copper Hand Engraving (Kahramanmaraş Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

Product Definition and Distinctive Characteristics

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

Production Method

In the production of Maraş Copper Hand Engraving, copper sheets of 0.5–1.5 mm thickness are used. Traditionally, the product is made by hand using hammering techniques, although machine production is also possible. Machine use is generally limited to the die-stamping and shaping stages, while ornamentation is performed manually.

Hand Production (Hammering Technique):

1. Shaping: Copper sheets are hammered between an anvil or hard surface and a wooden mallet to achieve the desired dimensions. Parts shaped with the wooden mallet and reaching a thickness of 0.5–1.5 mm are further hardened by hammering with chisels and mallets. This process allows patterns to be easily engraved onto the copper surface.
2. Annealing: To prevent cracking or brittleness and to maintain workability, the hardened copper is periodically annealed—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 edge of the sheet to another in a cylindrical shape, and the seam is welded by hammering. The base, made from a separate sheet, is also hammered and fused to the body.
4. Reinforcement of the Rim (for Large Items): To enhance durability, a metal ring may be inserted along the rim. 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.

Coppersmith’s Shop (Digital Culture and Tourism Inventory)

Machine Production:

Raw Material Processing:

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 intended product. The copper hardens during rolling and is subsequently annealed in ovens to produce copper sheets of 0.50–1.5 mm thickness.

Ornamentation:

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

Final Processing:

After ornamentation, Maraş Copper Hand Engraving items are tin-coated and polished, making them ready for sale.

Geographical Origin and Boundaries

The geographical boundary for Maraş Copper Hand Engraving is defined as Kahramanmaraş Province. The entire production process, particularly the craftsmanship-intensive hammering and ornamentation techniques, must be carried out within the administrative boundaries of Kahramanmaraş.

Copper Hand Engraving in the Hands of a Master (

Registration Process and Details

An application for the geographical indication registration of Maraş Copper Hand Engraving 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.