Copper Hammam Bowls

The bowls in this section belong to the Kurnacı series, named after the kurna, the stone basin of the bath. They come in three sizes, all hand-hammered, in polished copper or nickel-plated.

How a hammam bowl is used

A hammam bowl has no handle; it is held between two hands or cupped in one palm, filled at the basin and poured from the shoulder down. Copper is not there for decoration. The metal takes on the temperature of the water inside it quickly, so the bowl feels warm in the hand and the water poured from it does not come as a cold shock. It is used on the heated marble platform of the bath during scrubbing and foam washing, in homes where a traditional washing routine continues, and increasingly for hair care and rinsing after a shower. Spas, hotels and bath suppliers buy it for exactly these settings.

Which size of hammam bowl

The Kurnacı series comes in three diameters. The choice depends on the size of the hand and how much water you want to pour at once.

All sizes are hand-hammered and offered in polished copper or nickel-plated. In a damp bathroom, the nickel-plated finish shows water spots and darkening later than polished copper; buyers who want the traditional look choose polished copper, the natural colour of the metal. For a gift line, the 18 cm size is the safest choice on both size and weight.

How to tell a real copper hammam bowl

Copper is not magnetic; a magnet that sticks to a bowl shows there is another metal underneath. Weight is the second test: a copper bowl is noticeably heavier than a steel or aluminium bowl of the same size. The third is the surface; on hand-hammered bowls the dense hammer marks on the back are irregular and differ from piece to piece. If brass is the question, copper vs brass vs bronze sets out the differences.

What drives the unit cost of a hammam bowl

Three things set the cost: size, sheet thickness and finish. The larger the bowl, the more copper it uses; the 16 cm bowl is made from 0.55 mm sheet, the larger bowls mostly from 0.70 mm. The nickel-plated finish adds a process step. We do not publish prices; we quote per order from the list of sizes, finishes and quantities.

First use of a new hammam bowl

Wash the bowl first with warm water and a soft sponge and dry it straight away. Because it is a water vessel, no further preparation is needed. It does not go in the dishwasher, and wire brushes and bleach are not used on it. Not leaving it full of water in the basin, from the first day, delays darkening of the surface.

What happens to copper in constant contact with water

Copper oxidises when it stays wet; the surface first dulls, then dark spots appear. There is no way to prevent this completely, but delaying it is simple: after use, do not leave the bowl full of water in the basin; shake it out and turn it upside down somewhere airy. A bowl dried with a soft cloth once a week stays close to its first-day look for years. White marks from hard water come off with a cloth dampened with vinegar, and a darkened surface with lemon and salt; after rubbing, rinse well and always dry. There is no lacquer on the bowl, so the surface can be brought back again and again.

Hammering a bowl in Kahramanmaraş

A hammam bowl is not counted among the hardest jobs in coppersmithing, but it is one of the least forgiving. Sinking a shallow surface from a single piece of copper with a hammer, the thickness has to stay even everywhere; otherwise the bowl sits crooked and does not pour cleanly. In Kahramanmaraş this is still done at the bench, by hand, and the dense hammer marks on the back of the bowl are the signature of that stage.

Models and sizes

Two measurements decide a hammam bowl: diameter and depth. Diameter sets how much water is taken in one scoop; depth sets how the bowl sits in the hand. Weight runs from about 130 to 205 grams, and because the bowl is used with wet hands the difference is noticeable.

Every body is hand-hammered; the boss in the centre and the raised pattern around it are worked by hand. Sheet thickness stays within 0.50 to 0.70 millimetres. Finishes are polished copper and nickel-plated; nickel-plating delays darkening in damp rooms.

Ordering hammam bowls for trade

Hammam bowls are supplied in trade quantities to spas, hotels, bath-product retailers and gift shops. Send the sizes, finishes and quantities you need with the destination country; there is no single published minimum, and the lead time is agreed per order. Pieces shown as out of stock can be made in a production run. For linings, bath-set combinations and wet-room finishes in depth, read wholesale copper hammam bowls.

Frequently asked questions

Does a hammam bowl rust?

Copper does not rust. Rust is a reaction of iron; copper oxidises instead and the surface darkens. That layer does not flake off and does not affect the strength of the bowl.

Is the inside of a hammam bowl tinned?

No. A Kurnacı hammam bowl is a water vessel, not a food vessel, so it has no tin lining and needs none. If a buyer intends food or drink use, tin lining has to be specified before the order.

Which size of hammam bowl should I choose?

For daily use the 18 cm size is the most balanced: it holds about 600 ml and does not tire the hand. Choose 16 cm for children or for lightness, and 20 cm for pouring plenty of water on the hammam platform.

Is a hammam bowl a good gift?

Yes; the 18 cm size is the safest choice on size and weight. Gift packaging can be discussed as part of a trade order. The other bath pieces are under copper sauna buckets and foot baths.