Our friend Jean Emery recently returned from visiting her daughter in Michoacan, and visited the town of Santa Clara del Cobre [photos from various Flickr users] while on her trip. Santa Clara is a village of copper artisans near Patzuaro; Jean tells us they've been making copper goods there since pre-colonial times:
They make sinks. bowls, vases, bathtubs – it's all totally gorgeous and of course looks great in an Arts and Crafts setting. I bought a huge hammered organic-formed vase – sort of pumpkin shaped – for under $100.
Here's a link to an article in a Mexican folk arts blog; the pictures are good but really just barely begin to capture the gorgeous shapes and finishes available.
That other town is actually spelled Patz c uaro; I know several people who had a lesson in copper work while visiting there. Find it in Wikipedia.