An artisan (from french: artisan, it, artigiano) is a
skilled craft worker who makes or creates material objects partly or entirely by
hand. These objects may be
functional
Functional may refer to:
* Movements in architecture:
** Functionalism (architecture)
** Form follows function
* Functional group, combination of atoms within molecules
* Medical conditions without currently visible organic basis:
** Functional sy ...
or strictly
decorative, for example
furniture,
decorative art,
sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable ...
,
clothing
Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natura ...
,
food items, household items and
tools and mechanisms such as the handmade clockwork
movement of a
watchmaker. Artisans practice a
craft
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale pr ...
and may through experience and
aptitude reach the expressive levels of an
artist.
History
The adjective "artisanal" is often used in describing hand-processing in contrast to an industrial process, such as in the phrase ''
artisanal mining
An artisanal miner or small-scale miner (ASM) is a subsistence miner who is not officially employed by a mining company, but works independently, mining minerals using their own resources, usually by hand.
Small-scale mining includes enterprises ...
''. Thus, "artisanal" is sometimes used in
marketing
Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...
and
advertising
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...
as a
buzz word
A buzzword is a word or phrase, new or already existing, that becomes popular for a period of time. Buzzwords often derive from technical terms yet often have much of the original technical meaning removed through fashionable use, being simply used ...
to describe or imply some relation with the crafting of handmade food products, such as
bread,
beverages or
cheese. Many of these have traditionally been handmade,
rural
In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are de ...
or
pastoral goods but are also now commonly made on a larger scale with automated
mechanization in
factories and other industrial areas.
Artisans were the dominant producers of
commodities before the
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going f ...
.
In
ancient Greece
Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity ( AD 600), that comprised a loose collection of cu ...
, artisans were drawn to
agoras and often built workshops nearby.
Medieval artisans
During the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, the term "artisan" was applied to those who made things or provided services. It did not apply to unskilled
manual labourers. Artisans were divided into two distinct groups: those who operated their own businesses and those who did not. The former were called
masters, while the latter were the
journeymen and
apprentices.
One misunderstanding many people have about this social group is that they picture them as "workers" in the modern sense: employed by someone. The most influential group among the artisans were the masters, the business owners. The owners enjoyed a higher social status in their communities,
[History of Western Civilization, Boise State University ] and often organised into
guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometim ...
s.
Shokunin
Shokunin is a Japanese word for "artisan" or "craftsman", which also implies a
pride in one's own work. In the words of shokunin Tashio Odate:
Shokunin means not only having technical skill, but also implies an attitude and social consciousness... a social obligation to work his best for the general welfare of the people, nobligation both material and spiritual.
Traditionally, shokunin honoured their tools of trade at New Year's – the sharpened and taken-care of tools would be placed in a
tokonoma (a container or box still found in Japanese houses and shops), and two rice cakes and a tangerine (on top of rice paper) were placed on top of each toolbox, to honour the tools and express gratitude for performing their task.
Gallery
File:Mendel I 010 r.jpg, Armorer, 1425
File:Mendel II 072 r.jpg, Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, gr ...
, 1606
File:Mendel II 017 r.jpg, Bladesmith
Bladesmithing is the art of making knives, swords, daggers and other blades using a forge, hammer, anvil, and other smithing tools. Bladesmiths employ a variety of metalworking techniques similar to those used by blacksmiths, as well as woodwor ...
, 1564
File:Mendel II 086 r.jpg, Cooper
Cooper, Cooper's, Coopers and similar may refer to:
* Cooper (profession), a maker of wooden casks and other staved vessels
Arts and entertainment
* Cooper (producers), alias of Dutch producers Klubbheads
* Cooper (video game character), in ...
, 1608
File:Mendel I 053 v.jpg, Dye
A dye is a colored substance that chemically bonds to the substrate to which it is being applied. This distinguishes dyes from pigments which do not chemically bind to the material they color. Dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution and ...
r, 1433
File:Mendel I 164 r.jpg, Furrier, 1543
File:Glass furnace with workers Agricola 1580.jpg, Glassblowing, 1500s
File:Landauer I 082 r.jpg, Gunsmith, 1613
File:Landauer I 022 r.jpg, Hatter
Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter.
Historically, milliners, typically women shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of g ...
, 1533
File:Mendel I 021 r.jpg, Joiner, 1425
File:Mendel II 065 v.jpg, Locksmith, 1600
File:Mendel I 144 v.jpg, Nailsmith, 1529
File:Mendel II 071 r.jpg, Potter, 1605
File:Landauer I 088 v.jpg, Ropemaker, 1616
File:Mendel I 089 r.jpg, Saddle
The saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not kno ...
r, 1470
File:Mendel I 154 r.jpg, Shoemaker
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear.
Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand, often by groups of shoemakers, or cobblers (also known as ''cordwainers''). In the 18th century, dozens or even hundreds of masters, journeymen an ...
, 1535
File:Landauer I 038 v.jpg, Stonemason, 1550
File:Mendel I 018 r.jpg, Tailor, 1425
File:Mendel I 092 r.jpg, Tanner, 1473
File:Landauer I 014 v.jpg, Weaver, 1524
File:Landauer I 034 r.jpg, Wheelwright, 1545
See also
*
Applied art
*
Artist
*
Arts and Crafts movement
*
Caste –
Tarkhan
*
Guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometim ...
*
Handicraft
*
Job security
*
Tradesman
References
External links
History of Artisans*
{{Authority control
Arts occupations
Craft occupations