Endangered Crafts and the Destinations Keeping Them Alive

By Charu Suri

Nov. 19, 2019

Many indigenous crafts worldwide are in danger of becoming extinct, but in some
places, e orts to rescue them are underway.

A rising number of indigenous crafts worldwide are now in danger of becoming extinct
or endangered, largely as a result of their time-consuming nature, and fewer
craftspeople who possess these specialized skills.

In Britain, a Red List issued by the Heritage Crafts Association notes the number of
critically endangered crafts there biannually, from scissor making in She eld to
watchmaking in London. The number has more than doubled since 2007.

But e orts to promote these disappearing crafts as hobbies or souvenirs are underway
in some destinations, particularly by areas with speci c historical ties to speci c
traditions.

Geetika Agrawal started Vacation with An Artist to provide a platform for travelers to

book mini apprenticeships with master craftspeople around the world, to help “crafts
under threat.”

“We’ve all heard of endangered species and forests — now imagine global crafts at risk
of going extinct,” wrote Ms. Agrawal in an email.

Aging populations are not able to pass the traditional skills down, she said, as younger
generations are now pursuing other professions. “We are at risk of losing important
global heritage, culture and wisdom.”

Here are four endangered crafts, and the destinations that are keeping them alive.

Hispanic embroideries, engravings and more

The Traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe, N.M., is the largest and oldest juried
traditional Hispanic arts show in the world. In 1925, the Spanish Colonial Arts Society
was established to promote and preserve crafts, including Colcha embroidery (using
naturally dyed yarn), handmade copper engravings, gesso and painted
reliefs, retablos (devotional paintings) and straw appliqué . The annual market held in
the summer attracts more than 70,000 people; there’s also a Winter Spanish Market in
Albuquerque.

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The earliest Hispanic crafts were those in the religious arts, like santos (wooden
saints) and leather altars with damask silk interiors. “We had only one traditional basket
weaver and she dropped out,” lamented David Rasch, the Spanish Market director.
Hispanic pottery is more popular, made with micaceous clay and traditionally used for
cooking vegetables like beans. “If an artist wants to create a new craft category, he or
she has to provide research to the standards committee including historic references,”
said Mr. Rasch.

In 1981, the society started a youth market, for ages 7 to 17, so the younger generation
can practice and preserve these crafts.

Silver-smithing

In the United States, contemporary silver buying has decreased, even across the
auction market, and hand-wrought, forged silver is not in as much demand as in
Britain. But some places, primarily in Virginia and New England, still preserve these
traditions.

“Silver is such a great part of America’s history,” said Je rey Herman, the founder of
the Society of American Silversmiths.

In Amesbury, Mass., Old Newbury Crafters is one of the few stores that will hand-forge
sterling silver atware sets for you, starting from $1,000.

“We make only around 300 sets a year and constantly have visitors in the showroom,
especially during the summer,” said Charlene Morin, an employee.

The master silversmith George Cloyed helps to preserve the 18th-century period trade
in Williamsburg, Va. He has practiced the craft for 44 years and trains apprentices for
about seven years. His silver-smithing store alone — which educates visitors on how
valuable the metal was for both coinage and assets — attracts around 330,000 visitors
annually.

Cheriyal masks and paintings

The village of Cheriyal in the state of Telangana in India is the only place in the world
where these stylized type of paintings and masks dating back to the 12th century can
be found; only a handful of families practice the art today among 20,000 residents.

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 Sai Kiran Dhanalakota, one of the youngest members practicing this art form, said
visitors have increased weekly to his village because of his family and government
e orts.

Cheriyal scrolls painted on traditional khadi cloth formed colorful backdrops for

storytellers whose narrative occupation gradually vanished as movie theaters and
televisions crept in. Known as Nakashi paintings, they use natural pigments from red
stones, indigo plants, crushed seashells and soot from kerosene lamps. The artwork,
based on Indian epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, can take six months
to a year to complete and can be 65 feet wide.

“If I don’t continue this art form, it will die with my parents,” he said. His grandfather
received an award from the president of India in 1983 for his work. Cheriyal masks,
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made from tamarind paste and sawdust, are used at festivals by actors to amuse the
crowd.

Amish and Mennonite quilting

“In terms of traditional Amish crafts, quilts are a huge draw to the area,” said the
Pennsylvania Dutch County communications manager, Joel Cli , who says nearly 9
million people come to Lancaster, Pa., annually, in large part because of the crafting
traditions; there are around 22 quilting stores. “Quilting is part of the people’s imagery
of Amish country.”

Dolores Yoder, who designs and now sells quilts online, says what while there’s not
nearly the same demand as she saw in the 1980s and early 90s, she still sells hand-
stitched quilts; some go for nearly $7,000.

A few festivals, like the Ohio Amish Country Quilt Festival, which is entering its third
year, have helped raise awareness of the craft through classes, speakers, sewing
sessions and trunk shows. “We had around 1,400 people in our rst year, and this year
the festival pulled in nearly 1,800,” said the organization’s secretary Naomi Miller, who
has seen more young quilters interested in the craft.

“Those produced by artisans, either completely by hand, or with the help of hand tools
or even mechanical means, as long as the direct manual contribution of the artisan
remains the most substantial component of the nished product. These are produced
without restriction in the terms of quantity and using raw materials from sustainable
resources. The special nature of artisanal products derives from their distinctive
features, which can be utilitarian, aesthetic, artistic, creative, culturally attached,
decorative, functional, traditional, religiously and socially symbolic and signi cant
(Vencatachellum 2004, 51–52).”

of or having a special activity, purpose, or task

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