Mehmet Ali Bozkurt Revives Traditional Copper Household Crafts in Bursa

Mehmet Ali Bozkurt, a former greengrocer with 44 years of experience, now runs a shop in Bursa’s historic Tahtakale Han that collects, restores, and sells copper household items such as pots, plates, and ibriks. The shop, which he describes as a small copper‑life museum, preserves the craft that once furnished Turkish homes before stainless steel became dominant. Bozkurt, originally from the Ibradı district of Antalya, sources copper pieces from demolished houses and brings them to the market, attracting both local and foreign tourists interested in traditional Turkish material culture. By maintaining the original patina and using natural oils for preservation, he aims to pass the heritage on to future generations while highlighting the aesthetic and functional value of copper cookware.