Last month Scott McDowell worked late into the night to meet his Christmas orders. For those wandering the waterfront, along the Menemsha Basin Road, there was the familiar ringing of the Menemsha Bight buoy in the distance but much closer came the continuous sound of a tapping hammer. Mr. McDowell runs a workshop and store called The Copperworks of Martha’s Vineyard. This is his fifth year at his current location.

Each copper sculpture is assembled by hand. A three-fish chandelier was one of the most popular pieces he did this year, along with wall hangings and lamps. The hanging lamp consists of three large striped bass swimming in a circle.

Using soft and sharp hand tools ranging from a baker’s pie cutter to pastry tools, along with a hammer and a wooden mold, Mr. McDowell is able both to emboss and engrave features into each fish, the subject of most of his work.

This past summer, Mr. McDowell completed his 21st season as a charter fishing captain out of Menemsha.

— Mark Alan Lovewell