Aleppo, (SANA) – Souk al-Nahasin (Copper Market) in Aleppo is one of Syria's tourist and historic destinations, particularly for those interested in traditional handicrafts.

"The Souk was built in the 16th century. It was a center for copper trade and selling copper products in the local and neighboring countries markets," Chairman of Aleppo Craftsmen Union Gamal Nesf al-Donya said.

It is 800 meters north of Aleppo Castle. It is divided into upper and lower parts. Each part consists of a number of adjacent and small shops and workshops facing each other.

Nesf al-Donya said the union is working on to revive this world-famous industry through establishing a training center specialized in developing production and opening new marketing prospects.

He pointed to the negative impact of dumping the markets by mechanically manufactured copper products.

He said the union will take measures to protect hand-made copper products through organizing exhibitions to promote local industry and protect it from parallel import competition.

"Copper industry depends on red and yellow copper sheets. Copper passes through several stages including cutting, tapping and welding before it takes its final form," Hussein Namra, a copper engraver said.

"Ornamentation stage varies between floral and animal decorations including rose's veins, birds and animals and the arabesque or oriental ornamentation which is a complex, ornate design of intertwined floral, foliate, and geometric figures," he added.

"After that, we wash the piece with acid to get the shiny red color, rinse it with water then rub it with sawdust, clean it with brush machine then flush it with kerosene oil before wrapping it," he said.

Production quality depends on the craftsman's expertise, a craftsman said, adding that red copper products are used for copper kitchen utensils while yellow copper industry is usually used for oriental decoration.

R. Raslan/ M. O.