The Color of Copper

The Color of Copper captures this organic transformation, translating the accidental beauty of oxidation into a warm, radiant color palette, meticulously reproduced by expert artisans through a labor-intensive process.

about the collection

Inspired by his copper series, Kwangho Lee and cc-tapis present The Color of Copper (TCOC), a collection of four hand-knotted rugs that reinterpret the oxidation process of this metal using pure silk, Himalayan wool and aloe fibers.
Kwangho Lee has been working with copper since 2008, drawn to its unique properties and creative possibilities. He has explored how its surface transforms over time, reacting to temperature and environmental conditions, blending into this ductile and malleable metal/revealing the material’s ductility and malleability.

Building on his research, the Korean designer developed geometric motifs that reflect the color variations and patterns formed through welding real copper plates. As copper oxidizes, it develops a rich reddish-brown cuprous layer, which gradually transitions into a striking green patina.
The Color of Copper captures this organic transformation, translating the accidental beauty of oxidation into a warm, radiant color palette, meticulously reproduced by expert artisans through a labor-intensive process. Combining threads of Himalayan wool, pure silk and aloe in alternating saturations, they developed a new color system that mirrors the luminous, ever-changing nature of copper’s surface.