Tin Smith © Marilyn Anderson. Woodcut, 9 1/16″x 11 7/8″
Having nearly finished a coffee pot, a tinsmith adjusts the final piece for the bottom by cutting off a little of the metal. He works with care and skill to make the pieces fit perfectly before soldering them together. Tinsmithing is a craft probably introduced in colonial Guatemala or even later. The Maya, of course, had no capacity to produce its basic material. Tinsmiths still ply their trade in 21st century Guatemala, even if their wares are used less than in the past.