Japan Crafts Sourcebook: A Guide to Today's Traditional Handmade Objects

This is the first book to present today's traditional crafts under one cover and the first and only guide to the contemporary craft centers of Japan. A monumental effort seven years in the making, the Japan Crafts Sourcebook catalogs an array of items found throughout the country and discusses their history, background, and contemporary standing. An insightful introduction by Diane Durston delves into the intricacies of Japanese craft and contemplates the future of Japan's ongoing artisan traditions.
With over ninety items from all genres - textiles, ceramics, wood, bamboo, lacquer, paper, and metal - and a wealth of illustrations, the Japan Crafts Sourcebook provides the perfect introduction to this cherished but vanishing world, and will prove invaluable for artists, craftspeople, designers, researchers, and lovers of the handmade object everywhere.

This specialized volume, produced by the Japan Craft Forum, is a compendium of 91 sites in Japan where handcrafted objects are still being produced in a traditional manner. The aims are to honor Japan's centuries-old craft practices, to promote their continuation, and to acquaint English-speaking readers with major craft centers and purchase sites. Ceramics, textiles, lacquer ware, bamboo, paper, woodcraft, and metalwork are all included, with a brief general introduction to each type of craft, followed by a one-page history and description of the work of each individual site. One color photograph of finished work from the site completes each entry. A map showing the location of the craft centers and a directory with names, addresses, and phone numbers of workshops and craft associations should be useful to travelers and potential craftwork collectors. The book can also be enjoyed by browsers for the beauty of its photographs and the diversity of work presented. For public libraries with larger craft collections, academic libraries with larger decorative arts collections, and all libraries with an interest in Japanese culture.?Kathryn Wekselman, Univ. of Cincinnati
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.