It is almost impossible to imagine our lives today without the inclusion of copper. It is in the wiring which conducts electricity around our homes, in the coins that we spend on a daily basis, and in the pipework which supplies our water and heating. Copper is used for roofing, for the wiring in car engines, and is one of the primary metals used in the construction of bronze.

The use of copper can be traced back to around 10,000 BC, and archaeological digs regularly uncover copper items such as brooches, axe heads and copper coins. Relatively common on the earth’s surface, almost all civilizations have found and utilised copper, including the Mayans, Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Ancient Greeks.

Most copper is obtained in the form of copper sulphides, from large open pit mines, which are then processed through smelting and more recently electro-refining, to produce pure copper. For almost a millennium, the world’s largest copper mine was located in Falun, Sweden. It produced an estimated two thirds of the world’s copper supplies, and helped fund many of Sweden’s wars during the 17^thcentury.

Copper mining was also commonplace in the UK, with a vast number of mines spread throughout the country. Wales, Devon and Cornwall in particular are noted for their pit mining of essential elements including coal, tin, arsenic and, of course, copper. While no active UK copper mines remain, many are still available to visit as tourist attractions, making interesting days out with beautiful floodlit caverns, rides in the ancient lifts and mine cars, and fascinating museums.

Today much of the UK’s copper is imported, with supplies coming from as far afield as Chile, the USA, Peru, China and Australia. The remaining copper comes from recycling, a process which will need to be further exploited in the coming years if the demand for copper wiring continues to increase at the present rate.

Strong, durable and malleable, copper has found a number of uses over the centuries, many historic buildings are roofed with copper, exhibiting the rich green patina copper which develops when exposed to the elements. Perhaps the most notable example of this patina can be found at the entrance to New York Harbour, where the most famous copper construction in the world, the Statue of Liberty, towers high over Liberty Island.

In recent times, copper has been increasingly used in the kitchen, not only for the piping beneath the sink, but also for the sink itself. The rich, warm tones of the metal offer a distinctive alternative to the more clinical appearance of stainless steel, or the stark white of the ceramic finish. One of the reasons for this growth in popularity is coppers natural antimicrobial qualities, which means that bacteria can survive for just a few hours once in contact with the surface.

The other huge benefit of using copper to craft a sink comes from the ease with which it can be shaped. The malleable metal may be made into a wide variety of styles and designs, creating a range of attractive and unusual offerings. It is worth mentioning here that different sinks require different thicknesses of copper, referred to as the gauge. Most copper sinks and basins are manufactured from copper between 15 and 18 gauge, with 15 being the thicker and therefore more durable and hardwearing, and 18 being used for the budget end of the market. Decorative basins tend to be manufactured from 15 or 16 gauge copper to enable the craftsman to shape the copper for best effect.

With so many uses, and such vibrant colours, it is hard to envisage a future without copper, and you can be certain that in the years to come, this most appealing of metals will continue to find a place both inside and outside the home.