Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
With an excellent video with music of Clanadonia. Let us begin the winter feasting season in the old north. Not just a Scottish or Christian holy day, much of Europe is tied to animal slaughter and feast days to kick off the long dark season. From and anthropological and historical perspective the feast itself is … Continue reading Happy Saint Andrew’s Day!
A painting by the Scottish artist John Burr (1831-1893). Tinkers were originally tinsmiths or "tinners". One of many itinerant jobs pursued by a class of casual laborers. These were mostly skilled and specialized crafts like basket making, shoe repair, leather work, and metal work but many poorer workers were migrant farm labor picking hops and … Continue reading “The Travelling Tinker” by John Burr
Here is a painting by the Scottish artist John Burr (1831-1893) of an itinerant fiddler playing for a family in a Scottish lane probably trying to make enough money to eat or maybe even receive some food for his entertainment. I can't help but think the father looking out has a skeptical look; possibly wondering … Continue reading Wandering Minstral
Here's a wonderful old photograph of a "Tinker Family in Scotland." It is believed to be taken sometime in the 1920s but the location was not identified. The wagon could just about pass for a western American sheep camp. Even thought they had the wealth to own a wagon it was still a pretty tough … Continue reading Tinker Family in Scotland
https://vimeo.com/145695544 Ardnamurchan (Àird nam Murchan: headland of the great seas), Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. This is a beautiful short film of the westernmost peninsula of the British mainland.
Found these historic images in a Google search. Little information available other than what I put in the captions.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 