Victor Clopotar

Fluid shapes from copper and silver

• Victor grew up in a traditional Roma community of coppersmiths
• For him, functionality matters more than aesthetics
• He is passing on his craft to his son

Practising an ancient craft passed down from generation to generation, Victor Clopotar is a Roma artisan from Transylvania, Romania. He has been working in metal for decades, and he is today one of the last representatives of his community to carry on the tradition of copper craftsmanship. Day after day, Victor works in his workshop together with his son, forging objects such as trays, pitchers, coffee pots and stills. He considers imagination, including the ability to visualise the finished object right from the beginning, and patience to be essential qualities in his work. Through collaboration with international designers, his creations have been admired over the years at renowned exhibitions and events taking place in different corners of the world.

Interview

©Matei Plesa

©Matei Plesa

When and how did you start?

My father was a very skilled and valued artisan in the community, a mentor to many coppersmiths. From a young age I had the ambition to become better than him. I started working in copper at the age of 12 and the first object I created was a coffee pot.

How does a copper object come to life?

I usually work with copper sheets with a thickness of 1-2 mm (sometimes up to 5 mm), which I heat over a fire to make malleable. Once a sheet is heated, I turn it into a slightly curved object using the hammer and anvil. For a coffee pot, for example, the sheet needs to be fired up to 65 times to bring it to the desired shape.

What does well made mean to you?

The work should exceed client expectations and its finish should be delicate. It is what I am teaching my son, who will take my place one day: be patient and invest as much time as necessary in perfecting a piece so that it never needs to be remade or refurbished.

How do you combine tradition with innovation in your work?

At the Homo Faber Event in Venice in April 2022, I included collections that reflect a mix of traditional and contemporary art. I create modern shapes with ancient skills, challenging the perceived limitations of a rigid material such as silver.

Victor Clopotar is a master artisan: he began his career in 1995 and he started teaching in 2015

Works

©Mark Glassner

©Mark Glassner

©Mark Glassner

©Mark Glassner

©Mark Glassner

Where