Some videos today, first potters in Pakistan. The skill, dexterity and effortless speed of production is impressive. At 7.40 he throws a pot in 5 seconds, that is mind boggling. and another from India, I don’t know that much about throwing pots but I imagine throwing very tall thin forms like this is not so easy and they are incredibly…
I was first introduced to split wood basketry by my friend Owen Jones who makes oak swills. Also Lluis Grau in Spain. I have some lovely split wood baskets made in Eastern Europe too but I think some of my favourite split wood baskets come from the various North American traditions. I want to share some films of three split…
Five years ago I got an email from a 23 year old chap asking if I take on apprentices, he had been playing with woodturning from the age of 12 and done A level design and a degree but wanted to work without the dust and machinery. “Like many people, who i’m sure email you far to often, i want…
Just wanted to share a great link to a video of a wonderful old Japanese craftsman cleaving bamboo down to 0.1mm. Having spent many hours sat beside my friend Owen Jones the swill basket maker I am pretty faniliar with this sort of cleaving but not to this fine a finish. Follow this link to the 8 minute film of…
My friend Sean Hellman pointed me toward the Pathe news site which has some great old craft films from the 1930s to 50s. Not sure if these are visible in the US and there may be a short advert at the start but worth it. HOOP MAKING CLOGS RUSH INDUSTRY (issue title – MANORS AND CUSTOMS)
Computer time is very limited in the office in Japan so this is just a quick blog. Our project is progressing very nicely, I have been primarily working on building the Japanese tea house learning how to use Japanese hewing tools, pull saws, chisels and planes all of which work quite differently to European tools. We start work at 7.30am…
Meet Dietrich a German Journeyman. His odd costume tells those in the know that he is a fully trained craftsman traveling and looking for work to broaden his experience. In Germany folk instantly recognise this and so it makes life easy to get lifts when hitchiking or folk will simply offer him food and lodgings in exchange for some work.…
The Heritage Crafts Association have launched a map of traditional craftspeople in the UK. This great map allows you to zoom in to your county or area and follow links to websites or get contact details of interesting traditional craftspeople to visit or commission. If you are a traditional craftsperson and not on the map yet you can input your…
Brian is secretary of the Heritage Crafts Association and a second generation chair caner with over 40 years personal experience Today Brian shared a picture of his work with the committee and I thought HCA supporters may be interested too. “Currently commissions are just rolling in without any effort on my part, many of which are ordinary but some are…
Folk who enjoyed the mastercrafts episode on chairmaking should watch this video and see exactly where those skills have been kept alive. It is a good example of the way in which tacit knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation and is now being spread more widely using modern media and the knowledge used by a great many…
