Modern Crafts
Irish makers are taking heritage crafts and bringing them to life for a contemporary clientele, Deanna O’Connor investigates.
Deanna O’Connor on the world of modern crafts
The history of craft and artisan workmanship in Ireland dates back through hundreds of years. World famous examples from the ancient world include the decorated Celtic crosses, the stunning illustrated text of the Book of Kells, housed in Trinity College Dublin; and the intricate gold work of the Tara brooch and the Broighter Hoard.
While those mentioned above would have been the preserve of the nobility, artisan work such as stone wall building, thatching, weaving fabric and basketmaking would have been practiced in villages and homes to make the necessities for daily life.
Nowadays, we so often choose machine-made fabrics and goods in place of traditional handmade, and skills which were once absolutely widespread are now limited to a few niche practitioners. Thankfully modern makers are keeping skills alive, updating their product offerings to appeal to modern customers and passing on their appreciation of lovingly hand-crafted items.
“Wicklow-born Bianca Divito has paid her dues working with ecclesiastical glass”
WEAVING
In history…
According to the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, the earliest known evidence of woven material in Ireland dates from about 1600 B.C., with pottery from that period showing signs of woven material in which the clay was placed before firing. The skills of spinning and weaving were so important in early Ireland that there were even laws pertaining to them written into the legal system of the time, known as Brehon Law—in the case of a divorce, a wife was entitled to keep her spinning and weaving equipment and a share of the yarn and cloth. Rural handweaving was later joined by more industrialised efforts and a Weavers Guild was set up to regulate the art. The arrival of a number of French Hugenot weavers to Dublin in the seventeenth century encouraged silk weaving to thrive in the city also. The tradition of silk and poplin weaving carried on until the last factory in Dublin’s Liberties closed in 1965.
The Modern Maker…
Fiadh Durham, of Fiadh Woven Design in Dingle, Co Kerry, studied Textiles at the National College of Art and Design and apprenticed herself to a local weaver back at home in Kerry to hone her craft. Having learned the traditional style, she went out on her own to push the boundaries and see where she could take the traditional techniques.
Harnessing social media to show off her inspirations, she displays beautifully shot images of the stunning local scenery taken from explorations in the surrounding countryside, side by side with the colour combinations and woven pieces they have inspired. The direct link of the landscape and colours of nature translated into textile is impossible to miss.
Fiadh’s signature scarves are beloved by all ages, and regularly spotted on stylish women and men in fashion, film and music circles. The designer is passionate about pushing the boundaries of what can be done with weaving, and is expanding her range, with the latest additions, including a kimono-style garment, gaining rave reviews. This winter’s star piece is a twisted headband, somewhere between a ski headband and a turban, which comes in a variety of colours, and can be paired with a matching set of cosy and practical fingerless handwarmers.
“We need to make weaving a thing of the future rather than the past,” she says. “I believe that this is achievable by respecting and learning the craft from the masters and using design and creativity to make something new and exciting.” www.fiadh.ie
STAINED GLASS
In history…
Churches were traditionally at the heart of every Irish community and many exceptional examples of ecclesiastical art can be seen in the churches and cathedrals of Ireland. The world-famous Harry Clarke is probably the most famous of Irish stained glass artists, and his works can be seen across the country, from An Diseart in Dingle, Co Kerry, to the Honan
The Modern Maker…
Wicklow-born artist Bianca Divito has paid her dues working with ecclesiastical glass, having completed a massive conservation project on the stained glass windows in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. “Traditionally, a family would have sponsored a stained glass window for an ecclesiastical setting,” she says, “whereas nowadays private clients are commissioning me directly to create a special piece for them for their homes.” In her personal practice, she favours truly contemporary styles, although her love for Art Nouveau style has influenced some pieces.
"Master craftsmanship with an innovative aesthetic,” is how she describes her work.
She creates bespoke commissions for clients, whether for fitting as windows or even garden display. She met her husband, garden designer Damien Keane, when looking to explore collaboration on glass panels for gardens, and together they brought the idea to the Chelsea Flower Show in 2012, where she earned a certificate of merit for outstanding presentation. They have since collaborated on two beautiful baby girls!
From her home studio in a converted old schoolhouse in Co Wexford she balances family life with commissions and creating
the Binky Minky range of accessibly-priced, small decorative pieces, suitable for gifting. She also runs courses teaching basic stained glass techniques, where you can make your very own piece of art to take away. www.biancadivito.com
WOODWORK
In history…
Wood was at the heart of every Irish home, with wooden furniture, such as chairs, dressers and frame beds common in every rural home from the second half of the nineteenth century. Woodturners used a special tool called a lathe to shape solid pieces of wood into round or cylindrical objects as required, for everything from bowls and eggcups to tradesmen’s tools. Wooden churns, barrels and buckets were crucial to every farmyard. Most important of all, the hurley—the curved stick used in the sport of hurling—is made of ash, a flexible timber with a good capacity for shock absorption, giving the game its nickname, ‘The Clash of the Ash’. The sport dates back over 3,000 years, and features in many myths and legends, although there is evidence that it was an essential part of training for young men preparing to be warriors.
The Modern Maker…
Mick Minogue, originally from the historic city of Kilkenny, trained in textiles in the National College of Art and Design. His career as an artist encompasses murals, illustration and art direction for film, but it is his wooden figurines that have captured the hearts and imaginations of many. He has made everything from wedding cake toppers to a series of Game of Thrones characters in 18mm birch ply. Rumour has it George R.R. Martin himself may have even purchased one of the sellout pieces, which were produced for a pop culture gallery in Seattle.
He first of all draws his character on to the wood, as if it were a sketch book. “I love nothing more than a 2B pencil scratching the surface of freshly cut and sanded ply,” he admits. When he is happy with the design Mick then cuts it out by hand using a table mounted saw, before painting it. “I just like the craft and get great enjoyment from the simple task of cutting and painting. I could get them laser cut—it would save time and I could produce much more but there is a more personal vibe to me cutting them out by hand. I think the customers like it. I’m just a sucker for punishment.”
His inspirations change all the time, with music and mystery always at the forefront. “I think I’m a very romantic person,” he muses. “I like getting lost in it as you do with love. I like getting captivated and I still hold the same wonderment for things similar to when I was a child.” www.mickminoguemadethis.com