Almost Lost Arts: Traditional Crafts and the Artisans Keeping Them Alive

by Emily Freidenrich, Narayan Khandekar (Contributor), Margaret Shepherd (Contributor)

This book is a celebration of tactile beauty and a tribute to human ingenuity. In-depth profiles tell the stories of 20 artisans who have devoted their lives to preserving traditional techniques. Gorgeous photographs reveal these craftspeople's studios, from Oaxaca to Kyoto and from Milan to Tennessee. Two essays explore the challenges and rewards of engaging deeply with the past. With an elegant three-piece case and foil stamping, this rich volume will be an inspiration to makers, collectors, and history lovers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Art, History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2019

About the author

Author of ALMOST LOST ARTS, and THE ART OF BEATRIX POTTER (as Emily Zach). Lover of art, history, and design, living in Seattle with a creative director and a corgi.

Reviews

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this book, Almost Lost Arts - Traditional Crafts and the Artisans Keeping Them Alive by Emily Freidenrich by chance when looking through my library's catalogue for something completely different. Don't you love it when a book finds you, instead of the other way around?

Almost Lost Arts showcases 20 traditional arts, crafts and vocations through the work of individual artisans passionate about their work and dedicated to keeping these skills and practices alive.

Highlights for me included the globemakers, bookmender, antiquarian horologist, wood type printers, sign painters, woodcut printers, mapmaker and hatmakers. There was also a cassette tape manufacturer, the last of its kind in the world which was interesting.

Very few of the profiles gave the reader an indication of the skill or training required, which was a real shame. On the chapter about woodcut prints, Meguri Nakayama tells us:

"Carvers and printers train for five to seven years to reach the minimum level of skill required of artisans, and it takes more years of 'concentration, patience, and strong passion," says Nakayama, "before they are considered masters." Page 180

This is clearly impressive, and I would have appreciated more examples of the time and effort taken to attain the level of knowledge, skill and experience these artisans have achieved in each of their very specialised careers.

Stuff like this. According to Simon Vernon, World's End Mapmaking Company in the UK:

"Less than point one of one percent of people are still making maps the way I do," Vernon estimates." Page 187

Impressively, Vernon is one of only a few people in the world creating maps using the same skills cartographers used three hundred years ago.

Many of the artisans featured don't have apprentices or anybody to pass their skills on to which makes you worry they could die out if future generations don't embrace them. Many of the artisans seemed keen and sometimes desperate to pass on their lifetime of knowledge and experience to keep their chosen art form alive. This book is an ode to the past and has successfully captured skills that could disappear in the future if younger generations don't see their charm or value.

However, if the book was expressly written and published to entice the reader to pursue any of the vocations presented in the profiles, then I don't believe it succeeds. The choice to include 20 profiles and go into a little detail was better than choosing 10 profiles in greater detail, but still, there was much missing. I would have been happy to have seen smaller or fewer photographs if it resulted in more information being included. Some of the photographs were too stylistic or artistic and weren't able to offer much sense of the tactile processes involved.

Almost Lost Arts - Traditional Crafts and the Artisans Keeping Them Alive by Emily Freidenrich is an interesting read and could serve as a jumping off point for some readers, however I'm glad I borrowed my copy from the library.

[Wendelle]

A book of features that pay homage to artisans and craftsmen that make globes, maps, paper, neon signs, lacquer, fiber arts, bookmending, watches, woodcuts

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you prefer to do things the old-fashioned way? Do you appreciate the extra time and care that goes into making traditional goods by hand? If so, check out this book and meet the horologists, haberdashers, sign painters, paper makers and other artisans who relish plying their crafts in the manner honored by generations.

Pre-Vinylite Society: previnylitesociety.com
Best Dressed Signs: bestdressedsigns.com
Golden West Sign Arts: goldenwestsignpainter.com

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. I learned a good bit, and there was great eye candy. My favorite was the section on globemaking.

[Kim Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exquisite love letter to artisans who continue to use Old World methods to create wonderful, handcrafted items. This book profiles a couple dozen--from a globe maker, to wet-plate photographers, to a weaver who uses the ancient Cypriot methods of her forebears. Freidenrich takes the reader into these artisans' studios, beautifully describes their process, and shares the history of the techniques they use. As technology replaces these techniques, in many cases, there's really no substitute for something made by care with skilled human hands, and Freidenrich shows why. The book itself is a thing of beauty, with wonderful photography. Devoured it!

[Ginny Nemchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting and so pretty and has left me with many things I want to research more. If this sounds at all interesting to you, you should read it, but get the real physical book the photos are a big part of it. You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy the profiles of the artists, either, so don’t be afraid to check it out bc it’s not super specialized.

[Arend · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but finished it with a vague sense of disappointment. Some beautiful photography and some interesting stories (the pigment collection at Harvard, for example). I found the writing uneven: not a consistent level of technical detail, for one, and at times the stories read like marketing copy.

[David Freidenrich]

I enjoyed reading this book as it informed me about a number of art forms I did not know still existed. The photography was excellent and made the book more enjoyable. A very good book that I will share with my family and friends.

[Amberwench · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful collection of makers keeping artisan crafts alive today. We think nothing of a machine making a watch, a map, or a length of cloth, but that a human can make these things just as perfectly as a machine- and that we once did so on a daily basis- is rarely appreciated.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures and lovely short windows into the fascinating worlds of these makers.

[Joan Doss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful peak into the world of unique artisanal crafts with beautiful photography throughout. An easy read for a relaxing afternoon.

[David Fandel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insufficient images of finished products. Interesting topic - but weak presentation.

[Erin Bookishness · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most joyful books I have read this year. The arts and artisans highlighted were fascinating and the pictures were stunning!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring. Beautiful pictures. Cool people. What more so you want? We borrowed it from the library and immediately asked for a renewal when it came time to return it. :-)

[Nogah Seidemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtfully written, beautiful photos and every detail is thought out. I really enjoyed the selection of artist and the short snippets into their work and inspiration.