Coppersmiths in Herat say their centuries-old profession, which has been passed down for 1,200 years, is now facing extinction.
In the past, the rhythmic sounds of hammering echoed from every shop in this ancient city — but now, silence has taken over.
Jalil Ahmad Mohammadi, who has spent 25 years in the coppersmithing trade, has now turned to making aluminum utensils.
Although saying farewell to this traditional craft was difficult for him, he says he had no choice but to quit due to the decline of the industry.
Jalil Ahmad Mohammadi says: “Sometimes my heart and throat fill with anger, wondering why our craft is fading away. I learned this skill with great effort, but now continuing this work has become very difficult for me.”
The small workshops that were once filled with copperware are now occupied by aluminum products.
Some coppersmiths who have not yet given up say the craft is in its final moments.
Another coppersmith, Taimoor Shah, says: “There’s no business anymore. We no longer have the means to keep this craft alive. Unemployment is widespread, and this industry is almost gone.”
Jawad Safarzada, who also works as a coppersmith, says: “Only one or two shops are left. We just repair copper utensils, the craft of coppersmithing itself no longer exists.”
In the past, nearly a hundred workshops and coppersmithing shops were active in Herat, but now that number has drastically declined.
Cultural affairs analyst Nematullah Sarwari said: “Both sides of Coppersmith Street were once lined with coppersmiths’ shops. This craft not only met the needs of Herat but also supplied the entire western region of Afghanistan. Thousands of artisans and families earned their livelihoods directly or indirectly through this industry.”
According to cultural experts, the coppersmithing industry in Herat dates back more than 1,200 years.
They say coppersmithing is not just a trade but part of the country’s identity and culture, and its disappearance would mean the loss of a tangible piece of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage.
