"I used to travel everywhere - Lahore, Gujranwala, Karachi - back and forth to purchase antiques," says restorer Ahsan Shakeel. Sitting outside his small shop in the winding alleyways of ancient Rawalpindi, the 72-year-old buffed an antique brass pot to a high shine against a mechanized wheel.
"We've removed all the dents, but it still needs polishing," he explained. After quitting his job as a hotel cook, Shakeel followed in his father's footsteps, opening his workshop in the Bhabra Bazaar of Rawalpindi in 1980.
Today, he is one of the last master restorers preserving antique metalware in Pakistan. Rawalpindi's history stretches back to prehistoric settlements, evolving over centuries into a commercial hub where metalcraft from the Mughal and British colonial eras converged.
Inside his shop, shelves are stacked with centuries-old ewers, samovars, dishes, and teapots, mostly crafted from copper or brass. These vintage items are increasingly rare, largely replaced by modern stainless steel and plastic kitchenware.
Shakeel procures items from scrap yards, ports, and household clearances. "Often, the condition is so poor that no one else would buy them," he noted.
The shop owner and his associate, Shakeel Ahmed, use coal fires to tin the interiors, hammers to remove dents, and specialized buffers to polish the metal, restoring these dilapidated treasures to their former glory. Restoring a severely damaged item can take several days of meticulous labor.
Once restored, these unique pieces can fetch between 100 to 1000 dollars, depending on their historical significance and craftsmanship. Ahsan Shakeel noted that due to his advancing age and health concerns, he now relies heavily on online platforms to reach collectors who appreciate the value of these historical artifacts.
56-year-old Shakeel Ahmed, who has worked alongside the master for years, expressed that he finds immense joy in repairing these relics because they carry the stories of the past. "The work we do is akin to breathing new life into dead objects," he said, reflecting on the cultural importance of preserving the legacy of Pakistani metalwork for future generations.