Abstract:

Coppersmithing, which constitutes an important part of our handicrafts from past to present, is one of Gerede's oldest professions. With the decrease in demand for copper items today for different reasons, the art of coppersmithing in Gerede has started to decline and even has begun to disappear. In the past, there were more than 50 coppersmith shops, and now there are 4 shops and a few masters left. In these shops, which are mostly aimed at meeting the needs of the rural areas, aluminum items are also sold as well as copper items. The masters who make tin and work on order in the workshops are trying to continue the copper work under difficult conditions. In this article, the general situation of the coppersmithing of Gerede District of Bolu Province has examined. The tools and equipment used in coppersmithing, the production stages of Gerede's famous ewer (Gerede Upruğu) and tin making have been mentioned. In addition, the opinions of coppersmiths and masters in Gerede, information about the types of products produced and marketed in the region have been given. Suggestions have been made on how to keep coppersmithing, which is a lost profession today, in our small regions.

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