Throughout this training, participants acquire the technical foundations of coppersmithing, introducing them to the fundamental techniques of stamping, planishing, and swaging. They learn to handle traditional coppersmith tools—hammers, hammers, and other rivets—and understand their specific uses depending on the desired effects.

Particular attention is paid to listening to the material: the aim is to develop a sensitive relationship with the metal, to grasp its behavior through movement, and to cultivate its regularity, rhythm, and precision. This progressive approach allows participants to understand the stages involved in manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a simple sheet of brass or copper.

Each participant is thus guided in the creation of a personal piece, the fruit of experimentation and learning, and revealing a dialogue between technique and expression.

At the end of the training, the trainee will be able to:

• Draw and create a template for the part to be made
• Cut and stamp
• Shape by shrinking
• Plane a part
• Observe deformations once the part is filled with jeweler's cement
• Perform finishing and improve the surface finish

This 5-day course offers a complete immersion in the world of coppersmithing, an ancestral skill that consists of shaping metal into volume using only the power of movement. Through progressive teaching, participants are guided step by step in their discovery of this artistic craft, combining technical rigor and personal sensitivity.

The training begins with learning the tools and basic techniques, then moves on to the creation of both an individual and a group piece. Each day alternates between demonstrations, practical exercises, discussion time, and personalized support, in a workshop atmosphere conducive to experimentation. At the end of the course, each participant leaves with a piece crafted by their own hands, demonstrating their progress and mastery of the craft.

Program

Day 1

Introduction and First Steps

• History and culture of coppersmithing: between tradition and contemporary creation
• Presentation of metals and their properties
• Handling tools: safety, ergonomics, posture
• Tracing, cutting, planing exercises, and first hammering attempts

Day 2

Shaping by hammering

• Advanced techniques: stamping, shrinking, expanding
• Creating simple three-dimensional shapes
• Working on rhythm, sound, and hammering regularity
• Guided selection of personal and group projects for the following days following

Day 3

Individual and Group Projects: Creation

• Development of the individual piece and the group project
• Work on volume, tension corrections, construction of the form
• Individualized follow-up: adaptation of the technique, understanding of the material

Day 4

Finishes and Textures

• Technical and Aesthetic Adjustments
• Exploration of Surface Textures: Material Effects, Specific Tools
• Introduction to Patina (Natural and Chemical Techniques)
• Preparation for Finishing

Day 5

Finalization and Presentation

• Final Adjustments and Finishing
• Presentation of the Pieces Completed
• Collective feedback and learning assessment
• Workshop cleanup
• Campus MaNa diploma presentation

• Classroom, multipurpose room, workshops with professional equipment
• Materials provided
• Individual and collaborative work
• Workshop work
• Active participation and experimentation of participants are encouraged

• Collective and personalized monitoring of work, regular updates
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Collective feedback
• Half-day attendance sheet
• Certification of completion issued by Campus MaNa