JULY 2022
You won’t believe what’s inside!
Copper in Art, Architecture and Living BY AISHA PERINO
C
opper: It’s a mineral as recognizable as it is essential to the very fabric of modern life. But what is it? Where does it come from? And what makes this ore so important? Copper is famous for its color – it’s one of the few metals that displays a range of colors besides grey or white. When freshly exposed, it showcases a pinkish-orange color, similar to a grand Sonoran sunset. Over time, depending on the climate, copper will develop a beautiful green or nutbrown patina, making it useful for artists and architects alike. Copper is a native metal, meaning it’s found in nature in its purest form. This means it’s instantly useable, which accounts for its being one of humankind’s oldest metals, possibly having been put to use as far back as 11,000 years ago. The Ancient Romans and Greeks regarded copper as a sacred metal, thought to represent the goddesses Venus and Aphrodite. The Romans and Greeks used lumps of copper ore as an important form of currency. The first North American copper mines were discovered in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Many copper artifacts have been found in that region, including fish hooks, projectiles, awls, axes and knives. Recent carbon dating shows Native Americans mined copper much earlier than once thought – as far back as 9,500 years ago – making Native Americans among the first people to mine and use copper. In the Verde district of modern-day Jerome, Native Americans used copper minerals as a pigment for skin and dye. Copper mining has been a major industry in Arizona since the 19th century. Spaniards established the state’s first industrial coppermining operation in Ajo in the 1750s. Silver mining started in the Globe-Miami district in 1874 but ceased operations only three years later. Soon after, copper production took off. Arizona has been a major copper producer since then: In 2007, an enormous 60% of the world’s copper originated here. Without copper mining, many of Arizona’s small communities wouldn’t be what they are today. In art and architecture, copper lends grace and dignity. Copper domes bring prestige and beauty to significant buildings in the Western world. The Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia, features the largest copper-domed roof in the world. In Berlin, Germany, resides the famous copperdomed Berlin Cathedral Church. Copper appears in artful applications including jewelry, home decor and sculpture – such as the one-and-only Lady Liberty. The style and design of the Southwest feature copper in abundance. The region has produced many talented coppersmiths. Stop by the Pickle Barrel Trading Post to browse our collection of fine copper art and decor!
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