Craft South Africa. Traditional. Transitional. Contemporary

(Johannesburg: Pan Macmillan, 2003) 0620311908. 280 x 220 mm; laminated pictorial wrappers; pp. 192; lavishly illustrated in full colour. Very good condition. "In an African context, there is really no distinction between 'craft' and 'art'. Craft South Africa is a visual celebration of South Africa's extraordinary wealth of handmade objects and the people who craft them. From elegant traditional water-storage pots made in rural areas to sophisticated silver jewellery fashioned in urban studios, from headdresses that have adorned Zulu maidens for over a century to contemporary tapestries that explore new materials such as safety pins, the tradition of inspired craft remains a vital expression of the communal nature of South African society. ... Craft South Africa is a fascinating tale of the intuitive creativity of craftspeople in a country of widely diverse people, all contributing their knowledge, skill and, frequently, their humour and whimsy to a pool of crafts that is unique to South Africa." .