ARTISAN PRODUCTION: CHARACTERISTICS, PROCESS, TECHNIQUES, EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The craft production is a type of manufacturing objects done manually or with simple tools and machines, without the use of technology or industrial processes.

It is the oldest way of producing things and generally requires certain technical skills, which are passed down from generation to generation. Some examples of handicraft are pottery, carpentry, embroidery, costume jewelery, blacksmithing, cabinetmaking, goldsmithing, saddlery, upholstery and ceramics.

Certain hand-made fabrics are a type of artisan production. Source: pixabay.com

At the same time, among the products manufactured in this way, food and homemade beers, musical instruments made by a luthier, certain kinds of fabrics, furniture, perfumes, soaps, earrings, necklaces, rings and sculptures stand out.

This type of production is usually carried out in small family workshops or in native communities or tribes. Natural raw materials and recyclable elements are used for its creation, avoiding chemical and industrial products.

Nowadays, artisan manufacturing stands out for offering unique pieces made by hand, which also have an artistic and cultural value.

Characteristics of artisan production

The main characteristic of artisan production is that most of the work is done manually and that at most a few simple tools and machines are used.

The time invested in the creation of the products is greater and the results are original and unique pieces, which gives them a greater artistic and symbolic value.

The manufacture of these objects is usually on a small scale and requires certain technical skills.

In general, its production uses raw materials from the region in which the artisan lives, along with recyclable elements.

Origin of manual arts

Artisan production has been practiced for thousands of years. Although it is not known exactly when it began, handmade objects have been found without the use of instruments from prehistoric times.

Most of the native peoples practiced some type of manual art, whose techniques were transmitted from generation to generation.

Differences with the industrial process

The artisan process differs from the industrial process, which is one in which technology and sophisticated machines are used to carry out automated mass production, from already processed inputs.

Furthermore, while the former are carried out in small family workshops or in native communities, the latter are carried out in large factories.

On the other hand, artisan products are usually pieces with unique characteristics and finishes, while industrial products are all uniform.

Meanwhile, when it comes to marketing, handicrafts are generally offered at specific fairs, squares and shops, while industrial products are sold in large stores and markets.

Craft production process

Ceramic artisan production. Source: pixabay.com

Artisanal production generally begins with the choice of raw materials. Some of the most used are clay, wood, plant threads, iron, aluminum, gold, silver, leather, stones and clay.

In some cases these materials are worked by hand and in others they require certain technical operations, such as their exposure to certain temperatures or other processes.

This type of work is characterized by allowing the recycling and reuse of materials, such as glass bottles, cans, jars and paper, and by being less polluting than industrial manufacturing, since they consume fewer non-renewable resources, such as oil. and gas.

In addition, other advantages of artisan productions are that they require little investment and that the objects have a quality and a unique personal stamp since, being made by hand, it is difficult to find two pieces that are the same.

On the other hand, these products tend to be more creative, have a higher aesthetic value and are easily adjusted to small markets.

On the contrary, its manufacture in general takes longer than in industrial processes and has a higher cost.

Artisan production techniques

Among the artisanal production techniques, pottery, carpentry, embroidery, costume jewelery, blacksmithing, cabinetmaking, goldsmithing, saddlery and ceramics stand out.

Pottery

It is the art of making pots or other baked clay objects.

Carpentry

It is the trade where wood and its derivatives are worked to make products.

Embroidery

It is the artisanal process in which they carry out ornamentation on a flexible surface, generally a fabric, through textile threads.

Smithy

It is the technique of carving objects with iron or aluminum.

Imitation jewelry

It is the art of making adornment products that imitate jewelry, made with non-precious materials.

Cabinetmaking

It is the trade of working with ebony and other fine woods to build quality furniture and other objects with them.

Goldsmith

It is the artisanal process by which artistic objects are made of gold, silver and other precious metals, or alloys of them.

Saddlery

It is the technique through which saddlery and other leather straps and objects are made.

Ceramics

It is the art of making vessels or other elements of clay, earthenware and porcelain by the action of heat.

Examples of artisan production

Instruments made by a luthier are an example of artisan production. Source: pixabay.com

Among the products manufactured by artisanal production we can find homemade foods such as bread, beer, liquor, sweets, chocolates, sausages and tea blends.

Also musical instruments such as guitars, violins, basses, banyos, charangos and cuicas made by hand by a luthier.

Other objects that are generally produced in this way are furniture; the pots, the porcelains, the containers and the baskets; necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings; soaps, perfumes, oils and incense; mandalas and dream catchers; and aromatic herbs.

The same is true of certain types of fabrics such as scarves, sweaters, sleeping nets, socks, sweaters, T-shirts, rugs, curtains, blankets, quilts and towels.

On the other hand, sculptures, paintings, pictures and other works of art are also usually handmade.

References

1. Gabor, Thomas (2011). Craft production and technology. The Oxford Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Archeology
2. Molina, Daniel (2015). Is mass and artisanal production viable? Iprofessional. Available at: iprofesional.com
3. Craft Manufacture and Production, Encyclopedia. Available at: encyclopedia.com
4. Innatia. Artisan production: 10 examples and ideas of artisan products. Available at: personal-growth.innatia.com
5. Artisan process, Wikipedia. Available at: Wikipedia.org
6. Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). Available at: rae.es