Master Craftsman Research Articles

The continuity of the traditional teaching of jipijapa weaving in the town of Becal, Campeche

This research considers everything related to the workshops that provide teaching of jipijapa weaving in the town of Becal, Campeche. Its objective is to identify the causes of change in the continuity in the teaching of jipijapa weaving in the town of Becal, Campeche. The method is descriptive with a qualitative approach. To obtain the information, interviews were carried out with the different managers of the workshops who, due to their experience in being master craftsmen, they provided objective and clear data to achieve a complete analysis. Four of the five participants expressed that the process of teaching the weaving of the jipijapa palm begins with the desire to expand the culture.

Advanced further training or dual higher education study: a choice experiment on the influence of employers’ preferences on career advancement

Although the number of graduates with a bachelor’s degree has risen over recent years, little information is available as to which position such persons hold within an establishment and whether they compete on the career ladder with persons from the vocational sector with advanced further training, for example master craftsmen, technicians or certified senior clerks. This article presents the results of a choice experiment in which decision makers at German establishments had to choose between three candidates to fill a vacant project management position. The candidates had completed either advanced further training or a bachelor’s programme in dual courses of study (training- or practice-integrated). They further differed in other characteristics, such as the place of training, final mark, occupational experience and specialisation. The results show that the training strategy of the establishments as well as their general experience with bachelor’s graduates plays an important role when the chances of career advancement are assessed. Persons with advanced further training certificates are only preferred if the establishments exclusively support advanced training programmes. For all other establishments the qualification path of the candidates does not matter. The results give rise to the supposition that dual higher education studies will represent an attractive alternative for young people as opposed to advanced further training if such dual programmes are expanded and awareness of them increases.

Realism and Power in Mark Twain's

Realism and Power in Mark Twain's

A Study on the State Hair Stylist Licensing System according to the Globalization of the Korean Beauty Industry

Purpose: The beauty industry in Korea has triggered a global syndrome, and in particular, in the beauty industry, which is a labor intensive one highly dependent on human resources, a tool for more efficient and effective manpower management is undergoing discussion on the qualification rating, and hence, it is necessary to study the difference according to job performance. Method: Those who have obtained a national qualification related to the Korean hair in order to analyze the technical job performance according to the qualification rating of the state hair stylist license acquisition as well as those with over 10 years of field experience were subjected to the questionnaire survey. Results: For the hair stylist related qualification and licensed practitioners, the general job performance for each qualification such as cut, perm, hair styling, blow dry, hair evaluation and prescription, hair styling proficiency, and professional work, etc., were surveyed, and consequently, it turned out that there was a difference in job performance in the order of master craftsman, technician, and license, and the difference in job performance of license compared to master craftsman turned out to be larger. Conclusion: Hence, the license issued following the completion of education at universities, etc., has demon-strated a significantly lower job performance compared to the qualification, and in other fields, the qualification system is operated from technician to industrial engineer, and from industrial engineer to master craftsman. However, it is considered that this is so because the qualification system of the beauty area is directly connected to the master craftsman. Accordingly, in order to foster it into a global industry, it would be necessary to improve and supplement specific qualification rating which is realistic, independent, and reflective of the times, moving away from the focus placed on regulations and policies, and as an improvement point and future tasks to be pursued, studies on customer reliability, work habits, interpersonal relationship skills, and quality improvement, which are individual job skills of the state hair stylist license holder, ought to be conducted as well.

Child Labor: Prevalence, Reasons and Knowledge of Early Learning of Handicrafts in Couffo, Benin in 2018

Introduction: One form of child labor is early learning, which is a less worrying phenomenon in our communities in Benin. The objective of this study was to assess the practice of early learning for children in rural areas. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study combined with a qualitative component conducted in the Kissamey district of Benin with four targets: child apprentices (52), master craftsmen (41), parents and guardians (34), local authorities (9). The collection tools were a questionnaire and an interview guide. Results: The frequency of early learning among children was 32.07% with difficult socioeconomic conditions: polygamy (75%), strong siblings (79%), out of school (33%), unmet food needs (96%). The reasons for early learning according to parents were: refusal of the child to go to school (44%), financial difficulties (31%), school failure (22%), but 38% of these children did not know the reason for their learning. The actors had little knowledge of the regulatory texts. Conclusion: Early learning remains a societal problem related to out-of-school and difficult socioeconomic conditions.

House carving decoration as a field of interaction between the folk art and the art of Grand styles

The article is dedicated to the interaction between professional art and folk art in the city culture of the second half of the XIX – the beginning of the XX century. Choosing as an example the wooden houses preserved in West Siberian cities (Tyumen, Tobolsk, Tara, Tomsk, Barnaul, Omsk, Kurgan, Novosibirsk) the author examines the use of decorative stylistic features of stone buildings in wooden architecture constructed as part of mass city development. It is accentuated that master craftsmen often turned for inspiration to Baroque, Art Nouveau and Russian Ropet-Gartman styles, transforming their decorative motives and creating carved compositions marked by originality and high quality of workmanship.

The Rise or Decline of Craft Trades? Evidence from Czech Republic and Poland

Entrepreneurial activity in the field of craft professions is an integral part of national economies. The aim of the authors is to prepare an overview article, which would simultaneously compare selected business activities in the Czech Republic and Poland in the field of craft trades with an emphasis on young people and their employability in the labour market. In line with the aim of the article, the authors identified four research questions, which they answered based on the analysis of secondary data. They drew data from databases of statistical offices, ministries and associations. Data were processed using a descriptive statistics apparatus. In the Czech Republic, interest in the study of crafts has stagnated for a long time. In recent years, the number of graduates of craft apprenticeships has been growing. Crafts in the field of mechanical and electrical engineering are preferred, e.g. car mechanic, repairman, mechanical locksmith, electrician. Decrease in the number of graduates is recorded in the food and most construction professions. After finishing the apprenticeship, graduates often leave their field. In Poland, most companies operate in the field of trade and repair of motor vehicles. Measured by the number of graduates, the predominant field is the machinery industry, wellness professions and professions in the food industry. The interest among young people in the studied craft trades is declining in most fields, the field of metal machining shows a growing trend. It is also necessary to confirm the craftsman's expertise with a master craftsman’s certification. It is desirable to expand the possibilities of educating pupils and students in a real work environment. It is important that mutual communication between the worlds of practice and education is functional and effective.

Production and Circulation of Technical Knowledge on Building Sites at the End of the Eighteenth Century

Abstract This article aims to shed light on the exchange of technical knowledge between architects, master craftsmen and workmen on building sites at the end of the eighteenth century. In the Age of Enlightenment, major building sites were places where a large number of skilled practitioners of various ranks met (engineers, architects, contractors, experts, craftsmen). These were therefore places where the exchange of knowledge and know-how occurred but also places of struggle for power and knowledge. The article examines these exchanges and struggles using the case study of the building site for the dome of the Halle au Blé in Paris (1782-1783).

Craft and Legacy of the Traditional Woodcarvings of Adiguru Kraf, Allahyarham Wan Mustafa Wan Su

The art and craft of traditional Malay woodcarving may be forgotten by the modern generation. Consequently, it would gradually become an extinct craft in Malaysia if without effort to save its legacy. This paper aims to uncover traditional woodcarving's art and craft heritage and its visual attributes and craftsmanship in the works of a master craftsman, Allahyarham Wan Mustafa Wan Su, who was actively involved in the craft industry before he passed away in 2019. Traditional Malay wood carving is synonymous with the Malay heritage, especially in the Northern Eastern states of Peninsula Malaysia. Safeguarding of this intangible heritage is crucial after the departure of the master craftsman, who had contributed a lot to the woodcarving industry. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to analyse his works concerning his crafts and styles of craftsmanship. His opinions that served as inferential evidence were obtained through a face-to-face interview conducted within an informal setting. The semi-structured conversation focused on the craft and craftsmanship of woodcarving, with particular emphasis on the visual attributes and technique used. Observation and photographic documentation of his works were necessary measures to complement the interviews. Hence, this paper also addresses the examination of the woodcarvings produced by the master, which exemplifies his distinctive craftsmanship. The research founds that additional values, including artistic and design skills, further enrich the products of the master carver, which not only provide a stimulus for admiration but also serve as valuable references for the present and future generation of woodcarvers. Thus, from this research, the knowledge about woodcarving could spread for further research to ensure the future survival of the craft heritage.

A Study of Traditional Toy Making in Channapatna, and Proposal of an Artisan Village

Toys are objects made for a child to play with and explore their surroundings. Toys aid in the physical, emotional, cognitive and social development of children. Channapatna toys are soft-wood toys that are made in Channapatna, about 60 km southwest of Bangalore. The toys are eco-friendly, non-toxic and child safe and have been recognized as GI tagged commodities. Artisans majorly acquire the skills from their families who are into toy making since generations, or from a master craftsmen who acts as a head of a group of artisans. It is a craft that is passed on from generation to generation. The toys are also exported and have buyers in an international market. In this research paper, the process of traditional toy making, raw materials required, and methods have been studied in detail, along with the challenges faced by artisans. The artisans engaged in the craft form are mostly dependent on middle-men, and are unaware of benefits and facilities that are available. The paper briefly outlines possible architectural interventions that can improve the working conditions of artisans, and preserve the traditional craft form.

Outlines about Senj’s Hidden Heritage of the Middle Ages in the Context of the Arts of the Eastern Adriatic Coast and Islands

Senj’s heritage in general is historically and artistically extremely poorly researched and interpreted in the wider context of the heritage of the Eastern Adriatic coast. This is especially true of the monuments of the Middle Ages, hidden under completely different later architectural layers in the Early Modern Age of the militarised town. The examples analysed here are hypothetically interpreted in a new way, with suggestions for the dating and stylistic connections from the region of Kvarner, as well as from the wider Adriatic area. Along with the emphasis on the historical circumstances and the analysis of graphic and written sources, a proposal is presented for the dating and stylistic connection of the destroyed mediaeval tower (in the old Croatian Chakavian dialect - turan) in front of the façade of Senj’s cathedral. The possible closest twin and model to the Senj tower is probably located in Krk - insufficient data about the appearance of the Senj tower requires some speculation. All the circumstances that support such an interpretation, in the stylistic and chronological connection of the former Romanesque bell tower of the Krk cathedral from the end of the 12th century and the bell tower in front of Senj’s cathedral are explained exhaustively. It is assumed that, like the Krk bell tower, this one in Senj also had a communal status, so this may have been the reason for the construction of one more bell tower behind the rear of the cathedral, connected to the whole of the bishop of Senj’s historical residence. After this, two chronologically and epigraphically-palaeographically close inscriptions are compared with two churches from the first half of the 14th century, one which according to A. Glavičić was located on the site of the sacristy of Senj’s cathedral and the other which was located on the site of the sacristy of the Krk cathedral. The epigraphicallypalaeographically very close inscriptions, Senj’s "Imie od Raduča" and Krk’s which mentions the donors "Leonard" and "Bogdan", as well as the master craftsman "Mikel", are dated just four years apart. Finally, there is a comparative discussion about the process of urbanisation, architecture and the possible original name of Senj’s Mala Placa, the probable centre of the secular communal life of Senj in the late Middle Ages and the second focal point of the then already bicentrically organised town. Also discussed are the implications arising from the existence of such an urban focal point located next to the quay and completely separated from the most important public space in front of the cathedral. A proposal is presented for the dating of the town Loggia (the socalled "Kampuzija") to the 14th century. The term is interpreted as the name of the Loggia (Loža), but also as the name of the whole area regulated early as a square, in the sense of "campo" - like Krk’s Kamplin. The explicit Venetian method of the shaping of the brick-built Loggia, fitted with characteristic ground floor columns and Gothic monophores on the first floor part of the façade, stands out. One’s attention is drawn to its basement storage area which may have been a storeroom for salt. In this way, an early Venetian contribution (14th century) to the urbanisation of this part of the town located in the immediate vicinity of the quay stands out. For the Daničić house fitted with a luxurious late Gothic triforium, it is assumed that in the late Middle Ages it could have been a town hall and that it could, in fact, have been the town hall whose beauty was praised by J. W.Valvasor. A hypothesis is made about its original dimensions. With a little research luck, this could be confirmed by the conservation-restoration research of the inner face of the house’s masonry, especially the floors at the level of the skilfully carved Late Gothic triforium. The triforium is attributed to the work of Andrija Aleši from the 1550s.

The New Normal: Textile Crafts in Kutch Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper explores how the artisan communities of Kutch district in India navigate through the impact of the 2001 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic, to preserve their skills as well as initiate self innovative designs. The intention is to look into the negative impact on their lives that also offers a ray of hope for innovations to have taken place. The pressure of the pandemic has pushed artisans to preserve craft culture in various ways. An example of the master artisans of Dhamadka, custodians of natural dyeing and traditional Ajrakh hand block printing for 10 generations is shared. The pandemic situation has thus inspired them to create narrative masterpieces. A reference to a weaving community in Bhujodi village, who experienced a steep monetary downfall due to the curb on trade, that accounted for a major portion of their income, has also been made. This paper brings forth an experience of the balance of life where a downfall followed by a rise becomes the way of life, the “New Normal” today. The pandemic has certainly affected the artisan communities a great deal, but each has resonated a different impact toward their livelihood.

Folk Terminology of Mythologized Characters of the Group “Masters-professionals” in the Kipchak Languages of the Ural-Volga Region (based on the material of the Bashkir language)

The article describes the terms of the mythologized characters of the group “masters-professionals” in the Kipchak languages of the Ural-Volga region (based on the material of the Bashkir language). Based on dictionaries, folklore and artistic works, the main, widespread and local terms are established. In the folk culture of the Turkic peoples, a group of “knowledgeable people” is recorded, which represents specialists in a certain field of knowledge. Such specialistscraftsmen Bashkirs call “оҫта”, “оҫталар” – craftsman, craftsmen, masters’; “khonarse”, “khonarselar”, “khonarman”, “khonarmendar” – ‘specialist, specialists, artisan, artisans, master, masters’; “kasepse”, “kasepselar” – ‘a person engaged in some kind of craft, business, people engaged in some kind of craft, craft’. Of the listed terms with a broader meaning that characterizes any master, specialist, is the word oтаta, which can be used not only as a term, but also as a definition of other names. Cf.: “oтаta” – ‘master, craftsman’, “oтаta honarse” – ‘master craftsman’, “oтаta kasepse” – ‘skilled craftsman, craftsman, specialist engaged in some kind of craft’. The article deals with the folk terminology of the mythological characters of the group “masters-professionals” in the Ural-Volga Kipchak language based on the material of the Bashkir language. In the process of considering the terminology associated with mythological characters, a conclusion is made. It is concluded that these words and their origin are registered in most modern Turkic languages, and that this term is valid in Turkic, including Bashkir.

The importance of women in the preservation of the companies dedicated to the production and sale of the Jipi-Japa hat in the Maya area of Calkiní

In the Yucatán península, the handicraft businesses tend to disappear when the master craftsman dies, losing these family type companies. According with researches applied by Santos y Barroso (2016), point out that the 66% of the companies are run by handicraft woman, who preserve their customs, traditions and handicraft heritage. This document aims to appreciate the importance of the women in the preservation of the companies dedicated to the production and commercialization of the Jipi-Japa hat in the mayan area from Calkiní, in order to know the strengths and weaknesses of these companies for the export to European Markets. The research proposal was mixed and it was carried out in the four mayan localities: Tankuche, Bécal, Santa Cruz ex-Hacienda y San Nicólas from the municipality of Calkiní, in the state of Campeche, in two phases: Phase 1.- Internal analysis of the handicraft’s companies. Phase 2.- External analysis of the handicraft´s companies through key informants. The results point out that even when the woman has an important leading role in this activity, there is a significant decrease in their number; which indicates, that the new generations do not see the handicraft production attractive perhaps because of the work it implies and the low remuneration, putting at risk the generation of jobs derived from this activity; For this reason, it is urgent to implement strategies in the production and commercialization of the hat that help to strengthen this activity and prevent its extinction.

The old garden

Smirnov’s essay is devoted to an episode from Gogol’s Dead Souls [Myortvye dushi]; rather a landscape than an episode. In Gogol’s opinion, a landscape is not a copy of nature but an artist’s creation. A landscape is meant to be created, not copied from nature: the role of a master craftsman is not to usher the viewer along the trimmed bosquets of a French formal garden, unsurprising and immediately recognisable, but to lure them into the thicket of his imagination. It is with such a fruit of imagination that we are faced in the case of the neglected, unruly and overgrown garden on the landowner Plyushkin’s estate. The author examines Gogol’s description of the garden in detail, almost word by word, uncovering the hidden symbolic meaning of contrasting the village, ugly in its state of neglect, with the landowner’s garden, equally neglected but beautiful nonetheless. What is piles of rubbish in the village streets becomes pretty fallen leaves on the garden paths; the author suggests that Gogol used this contrast to let nature ‘correct’ the gardener, i. e. to remove the incompetent human alterations and reveal itself in its full glory.

Investigating the Level of Awareness of Local Automobile Artisans on The Usage of Protective Equipment in Siwdu, Cape Coast South Metropolis in The Central Region of Ghana

The main aim of this study was to investigating the level of awareness of local automobile artisans on the usage of protective equipment in Siwdu, Cape Coast South Metropolis, in the Central Region of Ghana. In the field of work, especially where materials used can cause harm, the necessary precaution should be adhered to. The local artisans in the automobile industry at Siwdu however do not take the necessary precautions at their workshops. Preventable accidents that ought not have occurred may happen at the shops to destroy human life and properties. The irony is that these artisans were aware of the relevance and use of protective clothing. As a result, it is recommended that master craftsmen and union of the artisans should instill in their apprentices the use of protective clothing while working. This measure would make the use of protective clothing while working part and parcel of them so that when they become masters it would easy and comfortable for them to use.

Transition from master craftsman to engineering degree

There is a great need for Master-Craftsmen who are highly valued in industry locally but are not afforded the same recognition as in Germany, so in order to encourage more applicants a bridging progression to a Bachelor’s degree should be devised. There are several paths to the education of engineers. Traditionally students of engineering attend secondary school from which they matriculate to a tertiary institution. In many countries candidates may opt to do an Associate degree articulating to a Bachelor’s degree. However, in some countries, it is possible to become an engineer without a traditional degree, usually in a more practically-oriented apprenticeship programme. In Britain for example, such candidates complete National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in engineering while working at a company. NVQs typically range from Level 1 to Level 8, Levels 6 and 7 being equivalent to Bachelor’s and taught Master’s degrees respectively. In Germany, there is also an alternative qualification to the Bachelor’s degree, the more practically-oriented Meister (Master-Craftsman in English), both of which are equally recognized and respected professionally and are both pegged at Level 6 in the 8-Level German National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The MIC Institute of Technology has adopted a Master-Craftsman programme which is accredited by the German Chamber of Crafts and Trades. Candidates have to first complete the (trimester) Journeyman programme comprising three years, about 50% of which comprise industrial attachments/internships. Successful Journeyman graduates can progress to the Master-Craftsman qualification by completing an extra (trimester) year of study. This paper deals with the progression of Master-Craftsman graduates, through advanced placement, in a Bachelor of Technology programme. The Master-Craftsman curricula have to be mapped against a typical Bachelor of Technology programme to determine the gaps in mathematical, theoretical and other areas and mechanisms to fill any gaps.

Master Artisan Certificates of the Practical Fishermen’s School in Bulgaria (1921–1933)

Abstract Based on data from the archival funds of the Naval Museum in Varna (VNM) and private collections, the article presents the results of an historical analysis of personal academic documents issued to graduates of the Practical Fishermen’s School (PFS) in the period 1921 to 1933. The application of the method of historical typology has established a total of three types of document emissions, the status of some of which were changed after the end of World War II, thus granting their holders the rights of secondary education graduates. The appearance and contents of these types of documents, the continuity between the different emissions, and their value as a source for the historical science are analyzed in accordance with the methodology of the auxiliary historical discipline “Attestatology.”

Surviving the aftermaths of natural disasters: the earthen vessels of Kerala, India

PurposeSince 2018, the two floods and droughts that struck Kerala's economy have threatened the state's sustainable earthen vessel production. Current studies allocate focus to the pottery industry's techno-social impacts and ethnography of the potter community; hence, there is a gap in understanding consumers, who are responsible for environmentally conscious behaviors, and their switch from earthen vessels to other materials adaptable to modern kitchens. This study aims to bridge gaps in understanding the reasons behind their demand shift and the challenges of earthenware consumption and production after the disasters.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative research explored the perceptions of pottery producers and consumers in Kerala. The sample for the primary survey comprised 590 randomly selected consumers and one master artisan from each of Kerala's total of 44 registered pottery communities. Unpublished records provided the secondary data on production and sales.FindingsAn upward shift in the demand for earthen vessels after natural calamities is observed. Quality, availability and adaptability are consumer concerns. The Markov chain analysis predicts that future consumption of earthen vessels depends on improved marketing mix strategies. After natural disasters, persistent demand exists for earthen vessels, but sustainable production is challenged due to the deteriorating quality and shortage of clay along with the consequent increase in procurement costs of raw materials.Originality/valueAs the earthen vessel industry was affected by disasters very recently, this study contributes an immediate exploration of its sustainable production and consumption challenges.

Between Industry and Islam: Stonework and tomb construction in colonial-era India

AbstractIn the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, monumental Muslim tombs in India served as spaces for refashioning local religious and social identities. Elite patrons, technical overseers, and stoneworkers engaged with new technologies of construction at sites meant to reflect claims on the Muslim past. This article interrogates divergent class understandings of monumental Muslim tombs in colonial-era India. It compares the construction of monumental Islamic tombs in the states of Hyderabad, Bhopal, and Rampur—three Muslim-led ‘native states’, quasi-autonomous polities under colonial oversight. By the late nineteenth century, many native state patrons employed a new middle class of technical intermediary to oversee tomb construction. The rise of this class created new hierarchies within construction, with apprenticeship-trained master craftsmen increasingly marginalized from state narratives and aligned with stoneworkers and other labourers. While patrons and middle-class intermediaries argued that new technologies and materials should be used to ‘modernize’ construction, they portrayed technical change as divorced from the religious symbolism of tombs. In contrast, workers integrated the religious and the technical, positioning technologies of construction within narratives of Muslim practice. The article uses native state tombs to analyse how labourers adapted to technical demands, without necessarily adopting state ideologies.