Robell Awake, himself a craftsperson, shares his love, admiration, and respect for our African American craftsmen and women in this brief history. The reader is introduced to little known men and women who not only helped create and shape black craft in America, but also who learned and practiced their trade while enslaved. This book is enlightening, to say the least.

Each short chapter is devoted to a different craftsperson, along with hand drawn illustrations that add to the beauty of the book. The illustrations are demonstrative of the era of slavery; while many may prefer photographs, the illustrations lend authenticity to the text.

Readers will be enchanted by potters, cabinetmakers, chair makers, basket weavers, blacksmiths, architects, quilters, couturiers, and yard artists: All African American artisans, many who learned their crafts while still free in their home countries in Africa and given little or no credit for their intellect, artistry, or humanity are celebrated by Awake.

True to its title, this is a short and quick overview intended to pique the curiosity of the reader and acknowledge the talent and importance of the mentioned artists. It was fascinating to learn about new to me art and artists and also learn the history of some things that I've seen my entire life and didn't realize the significance of its symbolism and existence. I particularly loved the portions on quilting (both sections) and porches. The artwork featured was beautiful, though I do wish there had been actual photographs of the referenced artworks. I ended up looking up quite a few, but maybe that's part of the idea, to get readers interested enough to look it up themselves and learn even more.

This was an amazing book.I learned a lot about the different black culture. The cool thing really got me interesting because my cousin does it. And I like the history behind it and how it would tell stories. Through the Q u I l t s. Also I like the story about the baskets being made in Charleston, South Carolina. . Going into Charleston.They used to sell them along the road when I was there.I saw that myself. Baskets had a purpose because they used to use them for the rice. Another interesting story about how the porch was explained and how they used to use them on the slave CAB. E! N. The furniture maker was very interesting in people can tell how they were built This is a great book.Because it explains the history how these people manage to survive and their craft still is relevant today

A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects by Robell Awake is beautifully written and wonderfully illustrated.
I thought this was a powerful book and engaging right from the start.

Awake's recollection of history through the eyes and hands of Black artists is an honest, hopeful reclaiming of history. What we've come to know as wonderful art and family tradition were powerfully propelled by Black artists and slaves, and this work is one of a kind in telling their stories. It's well-researched, thoughtful, and engaging. I would appreciate a longer work on this subject, but I found the format and length to be perfect for an introduction for those who have not engaged the topic before. This is a must-read for those looking for in-depth but easy to read history on the Black Craft.

This book focuses on 10 Black artists and their distinctive crafts. Featured are dressmaking, baskets, ironwork, quilts, ceramics and more. A fascinating quick read with insight, great research on 10 artists I was unaware of. The timeline of these artists range from slavery until the civil rights era. Each chapter shows images or depictions of the art discussed. A must read for anyone interested in art history. Thanks to @netgalley and Princeton Architectural Press for the advanced copy. The book was recently released, I highly recommend it.

#ashorthistoryofblackcraftintenobjects #robellawake #blackhistory #arthistory #baskets #ironwork #ceramics #woodworking #quilts #dressmaking #history #nonfiction #art #history #americanartists #blackhistorymonth #alwayslearning #readingisfundamental📚

A quick, accessible, informative read about Black artists and craftspeople throughout history that will send you on a hunt to dig deeper into the figures that most capture your interest. From architecture and woodworking to quilting and ceramics, Robell Awake highlights ten areas of American craft innovated by Black creators. The illustrations are a really lovely addition, but I wish we also got photographs of some of the works described!

Good book about objects in our African American history. Nice information about the objects. Very rich book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my thoughts. Receiving the book in this manner, had no bearing on my review.

This beautifully illustrated volume explores the rich history of Black craft in America through ten iconic objects. From enslaved chairmakers and ironworkers to renowned quilters and couture dressmakers, this book celebrates the ingenuity and enduring legacy of Black artisans. Featuring insightful essays and vibrant artwork, this book helps bring to light some little-known aspects of American history. The books is a valuable resource for art enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone interested in the dynamic intersection of Black art, craft, and culture.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I happened to hear Awake's interview on NPR this morning and noticed this book featured in a Black History Month promo email from NetGalley, so of course I had to jump on it. It's a short, accessible read, perfect for anyone who appreciates quality craftsmanship and a spot of history overlooked by the broader American audience. He highlights several craftsmen or groups of people who were responsible for creating ICONIC designs - both high fashion dress and furniture down to everyday utility items whose designs are fixtures to American culture. While none of the information in this book is particularly *new* or groundbreaking, I feel like it is the perfect balance of pulling the curtain back a bit and including the key bits of information in an easily digestible way. The artwork in this book is cohesive and well done. I do agree that it would have been more honorable to the creators and readers to include photographs of the items. The good news is that they all can be readily found through a web search and often with more information about the creators.
This is perfect for libraries that are 5th grade and higher. We've already added it to our order for our high school.
Thanks so much for the ARC.

A fascinating and moving read that explores the overlooked artistry of Black crafts workers. The author's essays on each object are as compelling as they are informative. I found myself putting the book down, to research each and every individual mentioned because I was so intrigued by their stories and the methods they employed to create their individual pieces of art.

This book is perfectly suited for use in an arts classroom, and would be welcome for junior high learners all the way up into a graduate level seninar. But it is not solely academic. It's well researched and presented thoughtfully, enough to find its way into a syllabus. But is also a purely enjoyable read. Anyone who appreciates craft work -- quilting, cabinetry, ceramics and more -- is sure to find out something about an artist that they may never have known about. And that's a very important element to this charming read.

My only wish -- and it's a very small one -- is that the art itself might be shown as a photograph, along with the beautiful illustrations.

A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects is a small but powerful book that showcases the work of Black artisans and craftspeople throughout American history. Perfectly released at the beginning of Black History Month, it is academic enough to satisfy my more scholarly soul but accessible enough to be truly interesting and not devolve into the pedantic. This is how I love to learn about history! History isn't just about battles on rolling hills and political machinations. It is women creating beautiful and serviceable quilts with what they could scrape together, designing and sewing wedding dresses by hand, finessing new styles of chairs that not only look interesting but are more comfortable. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is that I wanted even more pictures. The illustrations were lovely, but some photographs of remaining artifacts and productions of the more recent artisans would have added that extra something special.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books | Princeton Architectural Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

In A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects, author Robell Awake introduces us to ten outstanding examples of the craft and crafters who shaped American culture through the 19th and 20th centuries. From quilts to pottery, Awake examines not only the extraordinary work of these ten artisans, but their contributions to art history.

I loved reading about these artisans, especially knowing that much of their history was either not recorded or deliberately suppressed. I had heard of several of them (coincidentally, I recently read a book about the enslaved potters in South Carolina, which introduced me to these crafters), but even in these brief essays there is much to learn. My only criticism is that, although the book is illustrated beautifully, there are no pictures of the actual works discussed.

Many thanks to Chronicle Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found this fascinating, but deeply wish that there were photos of the objects or representative objects rather than illustrations. Not only would that inform, but I think it helps the reader realize the words in the text.

This book introduced me to a variety of artisans who I had previously not heard of, and in that regard it is a great starting point for someone looking to learn more. However, each chapter is so surface level that you're left feeling like you need to go do some research online to fill in the gaps. I also really wish there had been pictures of the crafts. Awake has made illustrations and portraits for each chapter and I appreciated the artistic interpretations as an homage to the crafters. Photographs of the objects are also needed; I kept searching for them just so I could get a better idea of what they looked like. Overally, a nice short introduction to black craft but this will really only serve as a starting point.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw this book, but I knew I'd definitely learn something I didn't know before. This is a truly fascinating look at Black craftmakers, from the days of slavery to today. It focuses on many items that, as the author suggests, are so 'everyday' (like a chair, a cabinet, a front porch) that we are either unaware of or simply taking for granted the Black excellence involved in their making. This book is engaging and accessible, sharing important knowledge while not being too bogged down in academic verbiage (which I appreciate!) Each artist and craft highlighted tells an overarching story of Black resistance, tradition, and perseverance.

For me, the *only* downside to this book is that I do wish there had been actual photographs of the original crafts. Stylistically, I like the illustrations, but I found myself distracted by falling down the Google rabbit hole to see actual images.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects* is a captivating tribute to the artistry and resilience of Black craftspeople throughout American history. From Richard Poynor’s iconic chairs to the stunning quilters of Gee’s Bend, this book shines a light on generations of creativity often overlooked. With vibrant illustrations and rich storytelling, it’s a must-read for art lovers, history buffs, and anyone who values the enduring impact of craft on culture. A stunning celebration of heritage and innovation!

A fascinating dive into art history through the work of Black craftspeople. Quilts, pottery, chairs, cabinets, baskets, architecture, blacksmithing, and fashion design are featured.

This is an enlightening little book that punches above its weight. Robell Awake, a wood crafter himself, has chosen ten artifacts, some more familiar like the Gee's Bend quilt, and some less so, to bring forward the names of the artisans who crafted those items.

He makes the interesting point that, at least with respect to furniture, it's possible that the shops of white makers hid the work of the black artisans who worked there. When an antique dresser from a known shop was being disassembled in order to make repairs, the penciled signature of the black maker was found on the underside of the top where no one would ever see it.

I never knew the story of Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding dress, that a plumbing problem in the maker's shop meant that it had to be made twice, or that the maker arrived at Jackie's stepfather's home to deliver the wedding party's dresses only to be told she had to use the back service entrance; she said that unless she was admitted through the front door she would take all those dresses back to the city with her. She was admitted.

I would love to see this book serve as the companion to an exhibition of the quilts, clothing, pottery, and furniture made by these craftspeople. Hats off to Awake for finding out who they were and linking their names to their work. I'd love to see more pictures, maybe the printed version will have them.

A beautiful book, perfect for any history or craft buff. I learned so much from reading this book and I really loved each of the 10 objects chosen. Honestly, I probably would've read a longer book with more objects if this author makes an expanded edition at some point. Finally, the illustrations throughout the book were beautifully done and provided a lot of color to the book.