Ignacio Punzo Angel - Mexican Copper Vase, Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico, Dated 1997

Ignacio Punzo Angel is one of the two brothers who continued their family legacy of copper and silver smith works. Ignacio and his brother, Abdon Punzo Angel, both taught their sons and grandsons the craft of copper and silver. Their family descends from Carlos Punzo Cordoba. Ignacio worked with copper as a small child in his father's shop, then learned to work with silver when he was 17. He mainly creates large, detailed pieces with innovative designs. Ignacio also taught his three sons, José Rosaldo, José Germán and Ignacio Gabriel, the craft. His pieces have been exhibited in various parts of Mexico and the United States, and has won the Premio Estatal de Artesanías and the Premio de Casa de las Artesanías de Morelia, and prizes from the National Copper Fair held in Santa Clara annually and the National Silver Contest in Taxco.