Combining the beauty of a coffee-table book – with evocative portraits of the crafters plus photos of their work by the brilliant Jac de Villiers – with the breadth and research of an essential reference, Craft Art in South Africa is a must-have for anyone with an interest in the inspiring world of high-end craft. While it was published back in 2015 and is now sadly out of print*, the selection of crafters included remains relevant, and the book is divided into seven sections by craft type, which range from baskets to “Wood and Cane”. My personal favourites are the “Ceramics” and “Fibres and Fabrics” sections: why does South Africa produce such exceptional ceramicists and embroiderers? It’s a mystery – but we really do, and should celebrate these marvellously talented people as much as possible. Robyn Alexander. * To locate an out of print book, search the title online or ask a good secondhand book dealer like Clarke’s Bookshop to look out for and reserve one for you. The link above is to Clarke’s current art, craft and design selection of secondhand books online, which is where we found this book for sale recently.
