Blog Craftsmanship Field Based Learning Williamsburg 2019 | Material Matters

Field Based Learning

A woman uses a plane on a piece of wood in a workshop, while another woman in 18th-century garb looks on.

Planed and Polished: The Joiner’s Shop at Colonial Williamsburg

Two women with hammers and roughly-hammered copper bowls stand around an anvil, while a man in period costume looks at their work.

Hammered Home: Silversmith Skills in Colonial Williamsburg

The Durfey Tailor Shop on DoG Street: Bespoke Garments for The Everyman

Two men stand behind a vise holding a piece of wood between two spikes.

Physical Sense in the Wheelwright Shop

A left hand, palm facing up. Balanced across this hand is an S-hook, or iron bar shaped into an elongated S-shape. It has little curls at each end and a twist in the middle.

Fire and Forearms

Val’s hand is seen on the left, holding the flax thread. Arwen’s hands are seen on the right, holding the hog’s bristle. Val is helping Arwen wind the thread down the shaft of the hog’s bristle. Below their hands is a pile of wood and two paper packets. A mug sits on the windowsill.

Shoemaking: The Dexterous Craft

A man sits on a stool, holding together the staves of a bucket within an iron brace in one hand as he reaches for additional staves to fill the rest of the circle.

No Holes in This Bucket

A woman is seated at a table. In front of her is a wig-maker’s loom, which she works at with concentration.

A Craft in the Hands is Worth Two in a Book

The author takes a selfie while she is laying on a tailor’s platform in front of an open window.

Tailoring Poetry and Opening Windows

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