Hans Brueckl, an 83 year old coppersmith, is still practicing his art/skill at The Manor Restaurant in West Orange, “The Manor is a veritable village of craftsman and artisans”.

This unique restaurant is a glimpse into the past century of how a self contained property is managed. Today this feudal concept is transformed into a place for artist and craftsmen to showcase their skills.  From the kitchen, to the gardens, to the carriage house (mechanics) the Manor’s personnel can do it all.  It is a “living history” that is a business.  A successful business!

What is wonderful – the artist get to utilize their skill in a practical manner.  Hans Brueckl, learned the art of coppersmith as an apprentice in Austria.  When the term smithy is used the first thing that comes to mind is the blacksmith.  The blacksmith – think horseshoeing, is still a known skill but, coppersmith is rarer.  Even silversmith – think handmade jewelry, is known more than coppersmith.  So what do coppersmiths make and how does one learn the skill?

Coppersmiths aka redsmiths make many everyday items with copper, hence the name redsmith. This skill in copper began transforming over to sheetmetal work in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.  Coppersmiths now include working with aluminum and stainless steel.  Instead of a forge an acetylene torch is used to transform the raw material into useful items.

Unfortunately, coppersmithing at the Manor may be seeing an end to an era.  Hans Brueckl doesn’t have an apprentice to train.  What he learned more than 50 years ago, the style, the quality of work, the time and patience to work the copper may become a lost art.

Coppersmiths have been around a long time – it is one of the few trades mentioned in the Bible.  Losing this art/skill would be a shame. 

Courtesy of Orly,

Neighborhood Specialist

 

 Click here to view Orly's Ringwood NJ Real Estate and Wanaque NJ Homes for Sale

Click here to Search homes for sale in Ringwood, Wanaque, West Milford and the surrounding area.