Pureco Shop - One of a Kind

A different and innovative workshop with rich traditions carried from generation to generation.

Guided and created by master craftsman Joaquin Pureco, a man with over 7 decades in the copper industry. 

Mr. Pureco, a teacher at the "CASA DEL ARTESANO" local school, has had the opportunity to inherit this wonderful gift to his children, and grandchildren, and also to the town's inhabitants for over 45 years. 

During his youth and his eagerness to help his community, Mr. Pureco participated in organizations that came to reinvent the community which brought benefits and innovations for everyone in the community. 

Among these innovations,  was the first jackhammer that was introduced to Santa Clara at the "Casa del Artesano", and the first national copper contest now hosted yearly. 

Joaquin Pureco and Teresa's (Joaquins wife rest in peace)  family was a large and Traditional one, among his children were Angel, Pedro, Jorge, Servando, Isidro, Manuel and three beautiful women. 

All members of this family have worked together and achieved many prizes for creativity and imagination in their pieces. However,  the pride of following this tradition has given a tremendous pride to our people of Santa Clara which is now well known for its rich culture and copper art.

Now Pedro Pureco, a craftsman and retired chef, with wide experience in copper art, the market and the traditions, along with the support of all his family has undertaken a new project extending the family business to an international level.

Opening his own Craft Shop in Long Beach, CA. Where he sells and promotes exclusive pieces imported from Santa Clara del Cobre aside from Pureco'

s exclusive pieces, Pedro Puerco also has included art pieces from other artisans from different parts of Europe, Japan, and India always giving credit to the creators.

Pureco family is proud to represent  Santa Clara del Cobre in the United States, and is content by contributing to the economy of its inhabitants. 

History of Santa Clara Del Cobre 

Fray Martín de Jesús fundó, en 1521, Santa Clara de Acuero, pero no seria hasta 1553 que se promulgaría su fundación legal, con el nombre de Santa Clara de los Cobres, denominación que en 1858 se le cambió por Santa Clara de Portugal, para en 1932 tomar su actual nombre de Villa Escalante, en recuerdo a un revolucionario del lugar.

Sin embargo, esta nueva nominación no venció a la tradición y en la actualidad se le sigue conociendo como Santa Clara del Cobre, importante centro artesanal de este metal fundido y martilleado, aunque también tienen algo que ver las monjas de Santa Clara que se establecieron, conventualmente, en este lugar.

En este poblado y sus alrededores, los antiguos indígenas de la región martilleaban el cobre para crear artículos utilitarios, adornos como cascabeles zoomorfos, bezotes, aretes y otros instrumentos como el hacha, al igual que en aleaciones con oro.

No seria sino hasta la llegada del obispo Vasco de Quiroga, el Tata Vasco que muchos de los artesanos de Michoacán aún recuerdan como si hubiese sido ayer, que la organización y progreso de las actividades artesanales y de los oficios floreció en esta otrora provincia de Valladolid.

Este religioso, enseñó a perfeccionar las técnicas artesanales de los nativos, al mismo tiempo que introducía nuevas formas de elaboración provenientes de España, entre ellas, la técnica de la fundición y el martillado, las cuales perduran hasta nuestros días.