In Praise of the Artisan
By Idries Trevathan
Craft lies at the heart of Islamic culture, shaping identity and artistic expression across centuries. In Praise of the Artisan takes readers inside this living tradition, revealing how master craftspeople continue to create work that is both rooted in history and alive to the present.
Drawing on a landmark exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), which showcased 140 works spanning 1,600 years, Idries Trevathan presents the extraordinary breadth of Islamic art: striking glasswork, intricate ceramics, embroidered textiles, carved wood, architectural ornament, and calligraphy of the highest refinement.
The book goes beyond objects to focus on the people who make them. Readers are introduced to stone carvers in Rajasthan, embroiderers in Makkah, calligraphers in Istanbul, and woodworkers in Cairo—artisans who safeguard centuries-old skills while adapting them for a new era. Their workshops reveal a dialogue between tradition and innovation, local knowledge and global markets.
Trevathan also engages with a broader question: how should we understand craft today? By challenging outdated distinctions between “fine art” and “craft,” he offers fresh perspectives that reflect both historical realities and contemporary practices. The result is a vivid and accessible study of creativity, continuity, and change in the Islamic world.
Richly illustrated and written with authority, In Praise of the Artisan is essential reading for anyone interested in Islamic art, cultural heritage, or the ongoing relevance of craftsmanship in the 21st century.
