Meet Copper Ali
Meet Copper Ali and two of his daughters.
There is something to be said for being an expert. More than an admiring enthusiast, an expert knows and is skilled in his or her area of expertise. One such expert is Ali, owner of Copper Ali’s Shop. Ali, a native of Adana, Turkey, learned the copper business from his father who owned a shop in downtown Adana. He and his father used to travel throughout Turkey buying copper from individuals in villages and small towns.
Ali's father (R) at his shop with Ali's brother (L).
A copper plate with Ali's father's picture hammered by a friend.
Later in life Ali traveled throughout the world buying and selling copper. He values the relationships that he has made by keeping up with the contacts from his travels. Ali has always had an interest in and curiosity of the world around him, watching foreign news and movies and learning foreign languages.
A younger Ali at his shop.
Ali’s memory is impeccable. For the pieces in his collection, he can recall what part of the world they came from, how long ago he acquired them, and how old they are. He even has a sentimental streak. Sometimes he finds it hard to sell his wares because of an emotional attachment with the pieces.
As the tag indicates, this piece is from the Turkish provence of Kayseri from the 1940's.
Through the vast wealth of knowledge he has acquired throughout the years, he can estimate the age and identify the purpose and use of his products. In fact, visiting his shop is much like visiting a museum. There are parts of history and culture that are lost in the outside world but are alive and well in Ali’s shop and memory. One such piece in his collection is a bucket once used by Turkish nomads to store yogurt. However, his collection is not limited to Turkey alone. He has pieces from throughout Central Asia and the Middle East including Iran, the former Soviet Union, and others.
A fascinating way to pass an afternoon is sitting with Ali and listening to him tell the stories of the places he has been and the people he has met during his travels of buying and selling copper. Of course he will extend the same hospitality of tea, coffee, and pastries that he has extended to his visitors and customers for decades.
Ali sharing a meal with his customers.
Ali’s daughters are continuing the copper tradition in the family. We have written about them before and you can find that article here. In addition to copper, Ali also knows a thing or two about rugs and kilims, but that is another story for another day. If you are interested in learning more about Ali and his wares, please visit www.aliscoppershop.com or follow his daughters on instagram at www.instagram.com/aliscoppershop/.
TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE WEST, KEEP LOOKING EAST!
Leslie Connors
Leslie is a co-founder of West2East. Originally from Tennessee, Leslie has called Turkey home for the past eight years. To read more about her, click here.