Atelier Cuivre & Cèdre

The coppersmiths' souk of Tripoli — Souk el-Nahassine — has rung with hammers since the Mamluk era. This atelier still raises trays, pots and lanterns from flat sheet, planished by hand until the surface carries thousands of small facets that no machine reproduces.

Apprenticeship here runs seven years, and the atelier takes two apprentices at a time so the rhythm of the souk does not fall silent. Each piece is stamped, weighed and released as a lot; the hammer marks are the signature.