OT: Red List of Endangered Crafts
KeskusteluFine Press Forum
Liity LibraryThingin jäseneksi, niin voit kirjoittaa viestin.
1Shadekeep
https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/
Came across this site this morning. Interesting, but not surprising, how many crafts related to fine press are considered endangered. I think we all know how few people there are on the production side, and fewer still are the sources for some of the materials and equipment. Here's a selection of the listed crafts that most directly affect fine press.
Note that this list is UK-specific, so there are other countries in which these crafts might fall into a different categorisation. But I believe overall it's pretty reflective of the global statuses of each.
Extinct in the UK
Crafts classified as ‘extirpated’ or ‘locally extinct’ are those which are no longer practised in the UK. For the purposes of this research, this category only includes crafts which have become extinct in the past generation.
· Mould and deckle making
Critically endangered
Crafts classified as ‘critically endangered’ are those at serious risk of no longer being practised in the UK. They may include crafts with a shrinking base of craftspeople, crafts with limited training opportunities, crafts with low financial viability, or crafts where there is no mechanism to pass on the skills and knowledge.
· Fore-edge painting
· Paper making (commercial handmade)
· Parchment and vellum making
· Silk ribbon making
Endangered
Crafts classified as ‘endangered’ are those which currently have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability. This may include crafts with a shrinking market share, an ageing demographic or crafts with a declining number of practitioners.
· Illumination
· Letterpress printing
· Lithograpy
· Marbling
· Pigment making
· Type founding and manufacture
Came across this site this morning. Interesting, but not surprising, how many crafts related to fine press are considered endangered. I think we all know how few people there are on the production side, and fewer still are the sources for some of the materials and equipment. Here's a selection of the listed crafts that most directly affect fine press.
Note that this list is UK-specific, so there are other countries in which these crafts might fall into a different categorisation. But I believe overall it's pretty reflective of the global statuses of each.
Extinct in the UK
Crafts classified as ‘extirpated’ or ‘locally extinct’ are those which are no longer practised in the UK. For the purposes of this research, this category only includes crafts which have become extinct in the past generation.
· Mould and deckle making
Critically endangered
Crafts classified as ‘critically endangered’ are those at serious risk of no longer being practised in the UK. They may include crafts with a shrinking base of craftspeople, crafts with limited training opportunities, crafts with low financial viability, or crafts where there is no mechanism to pass on the skills and knowledge.
· Fore-edge painting
· Paper making (commercial handmade)
· Parchment and vellum making
· Silk ribbon making
Endangered
Crafts classified as ‘endangered’ are those which currently have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability. This may include crafts with a shrinking market share, an ageing demographic or crafts with a declining number of practitioners.
· Illumination
· Letterpress printing
· Lithograpy
· Marbling
· Pigment making
· Type founding and manufacture
2SF-72
I'm not surprised, but it's really sad. I didn't expect there to be no more mould-made papers from the UK, though. I thought at least in art papers this was still done there.
3Shadekeep
>2 SF-72: If I'm reading it right, there are still a small number of places making mould-made paper, but the construction of the moulds themselves is no longer happening there. Here's the link on that extinct entry: https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/mould-and-deckle-making/
5Glacierman
I first read the topic as "OT: Red List of Endangered Cats." Did a double-take and then felt really stupid. sheesh. Cats. Oy vey!
6kermaier
>5 Glacierman: Heheheheh! Now I'm thinking about whether that would be a list of endangered cat varieties, or of specific cats living in precarious circumstances. Oy, indeed! :-)
7thfrgi
In related depressing news, the Lana paper mill seems to be slated to cease existing soon, one more manufacturer of specialty papers closing down.
Those who read French (or use google translate), can learn more here: https://www.dna.fr/economie/2023/06/01/la-papeterie-lana-vit-ses-derniers-jours (sadly paywalled though)
One factor mentioned in the article as leading to this loss is the great difficulty the company had in recruiting and training new employees, with the absence of even one of its master papermakers, due to illness or otherwise, resulting in huge losses due to resulting quality issues resulting in waste.
I believe I have a few books on my shelves printed on Lana paper. This is a global issue that will keep on affecting our very niche hobby, as well as the arts and other fields.
Those who read French (or use google translate), can learn more here: https://www.dna.fr/economie/2023/06/01/la-papeterie-lana-vit-ses-derniers-jours (sadly paywalled though)
One factor mentioned in the article as leading to this loss is the great difficulty the company had in recruiting and training new employees, with the absence of even one of its master papermakers, due to illness or otherwise, resulting in huge losses due to resulting quality issues resulting in waste.
I believe I have a few books on my shelves printed on Lana paper. This is a global issue that will keep on affecting our very niche hobby, as well as the arts and other fields.
