DE KLERK JUG 185MM

By Lucille Davie

SOUTH AFRICA'S only coppersmith operates out of a wood and iron garage in Doornfontein, declared a national monument. But he's not passing on his skills to anyone and is considering giving up the craft in the next five to 10 years.

"South Africans don't appreciate crafts," says 40-year-old Larry de Klerk, a fourth generation coppersmith operating out of the garage attached to a house in Currey Street, Doornfontein, made a national monument in 1990.

"Copper is alive and with it you can put things together that no machine can do," he says. "It is not something you can easily teach - I have been doing it for 20 years and am still learning the craft."

De Klerk says his biggest challenge has been to make a copper bath. He has had orders from around the world and has made 60-70 baths. "It was only after about 15 years that I felt I had the confidence to make a bath." A test of the craft is whether you can see a join in the bath: his baths have no visible joins. "My father said it couldn't be done."

Game lodges order copper baths mainly because they will retain the temperature of the water and therefore less water will be used, a prime concern for them. But otherwise, says De Klerk, copper baths will not crack or stain, and will last forever. "Besides, they look lovely," adds De Klerk.

De Klerk's great grandfather, Hendrik Eliza, started the family business around "98 and a half years ago" in Doornfontein, working as a blacksmith, and later working with brass. He passed the craft onto his son, Hermanus Jakobus (known as Harry) who started working in copper as well. Harry's son Cecil, worked in wrought iron, brass and copper and started teaching Larry the craft when he finished his army stint in 1982.