Full Description
The numerous items of everyday material culture that we employ in housework, cleaning, office work and entertainment are more than mere disposable objects. In a sense, they represent one of the ways for us to understand the idiosyncratic lifestyles and traditions of various places and peoples. A great number of these household items and daily necessities come from the handiwork of anonymous craftsmen, who have learned their skills through family inheritance or apprenticeship.
This book presents 120 selected items of everyday use, currently available in Shanghai in one way or another. Alongside photographs and illustrations, the book also includes interviews with craftsmen living in Shanghai, who specialise in bamboo, wood, straw, iron, and cloth, to portray and share the endeavors of craftsmen as a whole, as well as the intimate details of their lives in Shanghai. Hopefully, this book will help to introduce the ideas of environmental friendliness and resource preservation to readers looking for novel concepts, and to people who care about the development of Shanghai.
Text in English and Chinese.
Contents
Preface
Please read this first
Clever skills are needed in this kind of manual work Narrator: Mr. Chen, tinker
Old people like us prefer homespun cloth which is durable and comfortable Narrator:Ms. Zhang, cotton cloth weaver
Each household used to own more than one basket Narrator: Mr. Zhu, bamboo artisan
Straw weaving is a family art in Xuhang Narrator: Ms. Gu, straw weaver
There used to be over 100 makers of bamboo steamers in Shanghai Narrator: Mr. Wei, bamboo artisan
Weaving cloth is a skill like any other, such as cooking and washing Narrator: Ms. Shen, 58, cotton cloth weaver
We make premium baskets that are not only useful but also good-looking Narrator: Mr. Zhao, bamboo artisan
I'll quit if i can find someone as m worthy successor Narrator: Mr. Wang, rabbit lantern maker
This trade requires both skills and strength Narrator: Mr. Tao, wrought ironsmith
Shops & Museums
Recommended Reading
The Making of the Book
