A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects
by Robell Awake
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Pub Date Feb 04 2025 | Archive Date Feb 03 2025
Chronicle Books | Princeton Architectural Press
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Description
Black artisans have long been central to American art and design, creating innovative and highly desired work against immense odds. Atlanta-based chairmaker and scholar Robell Awake explores the stories behind ten cornerstones of Black craft, including:
- The celebrated wooden chairs of Richard Poynor, an enslaved craftsman who began a dynasty of Tennessee chairmakers.
- The elegant wrought-iron gates of Philip Simmons, seen to this day throughout Charleston, South Carolina, whose work features motifs from the Low Country.
- The inventive assemblage art and yard shows of Joe Minter, James Hampton, Bessie Harvey, and others, who draw on African spiritual traditions to create large-scale improvisational art installations.
From the enslaved potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina, to Ann Lowe, the couture dressmaker who made Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding dress, to Gullah Geechee sweetgrass basket makers, to the celebrated quilters of Gee's Bend, A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects illuminates the work of generations of Black craftspeople, foregrounding their enduring contributions to American craft.
BLACK CRAFT AND AMERICANA: Delving into the history of Black skilled artisans, estimated to have outnumbered white artisans five to one in the southern United States in the late 1800s, this unique art history book celebrates handcrafted objects that reflect the dynamic nature of Black culture.
DYNAMIC ILLUSTRATED ESSAYS: Luminous color illustrations by artist Johnalynn Holland highlight beloved craft objects and their makers, creating a fascinating volume to study and treasure.
ART HISTORY EXPERTISE: Author Robell Awake is a notable furniture maker, artisan, and educator whose work has been featured in the New York Times and in group shows at Verso Gallery in New York City and the Center for Craft in Asheville, NC. Dr. Tiffany Momon, who contributes an afterword, is the founder and co-director of the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive and a leading scholar of Black history and African American placemaking throughout the southeast.
BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOOK: The gorgeous design is ideal for art collectors and craft enthusiasts, as a keepsake reminder of Black heritage, for Black History Month and beyond.
Perfect for:
- Anyone interested in the intersection of Black art, craft, and history
- Designers and craftspeople
- Educators and students
- Collectors and museum curators
- Lovers of fine and artisanal design objects
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781797228549 |
| PRICE | $24.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 144 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Lauren B, Reviewer
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.
Caroline F, Reviewer
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.
