A stroll down the back streets of Beypazari revealed rows of shops where traditional trades continue to thrive—crafts that vanished long ago from many places. One of the craftsmen I met was Ahmet, a skilled coppersmith known locally as a bakirci or kalayci.
His shop caught my eye because of a sign that showed his full name; his surname translates as “duck,” which made me smile. He told me other visitors had pointed that out before, but he welcomed me warmly and invited me inside to watch him work.
Ahmet was busy, mostly with repeat customers. Besides making new Beypazari copperware, he restores and polishes existing pots and pans. Local housewives brought their kitchen items to him as if no one else could meet their standards—an indication of the trust he has earned over the years.
The shop is small and a little dusty, filled with Beypazari copperware stacked on the floor and wooden shelves. Spending too long inside might feel claustrophobic to some, but the clutter suits Ahmet; this is where he feels most at ease, focused on his craft.
He was also preparing for a travel fair in Izmir, invited by the local council to demonstrate his trade and help promote tourism in the region. Ahmet spoke with pride about his father, who taught him the trade, describing how those lessons shaped his work. When the conversation turned to his son, however, his tone grew a little subdued.
Ahmet is uncertain whether the family tradition will continue. He recognizes that younger generations have access to broader opportunities that can lead to higher incomes and different kinds of success.
Whether that is progress or loss depends on how you define success. I chose long ago to step away from the rat race and to value old-fashioned crafts and customs that I fear may fade as technology reshapes daily life.
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles that he has overcome.
Booker T. Washington
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