My grandfather from my father’s side worked in copper, silver, and brass design (with a little bit of gold on occasion). He worked by drawing and carving designs onto bowls, coffee cups, vases, trays, chandeliers, barbecues, etc.  This copper plate (along with a copper jewelry box) came from his store as a gift for my father as he was emigrating to America from Syria. This gift represents a little bit of the day to day life of a very important person in our family. Though he may have seemed like a regular ol’ Joe to those looking from the outside, he was a pillar and a rock for anyone who got to work or live with him day to day. Being such a reliable person to lean on, my parents wanted to keep something of his to hold onto the security and structure he gave them. Our family has now kept this beautifully crafted plate for over three decades, telling us it’s story every year or two, and more importantly, bits and pieces of my grandfather’s life. My siblings and I have taken lessons from his life and used them to help improve ours, and maybe someday our children too. 

– Yehoshua Salame

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant