Buy the books
Rizzoli Bookstore
1-800-52-BOOKS
...a great guide for first-time and more experienced shoppers.
--Italian Trade Commission
--Italian Trade Commission
|
Buy the books
Rizzoli Bookstore
1-800-52-BOOKS
...a great guide for first-time and more experienced shoppers.
--Italian Trade Commission
|
Dear Friends,
Thanks to everyone who
has commented on my new column, "The Genuine Article: In Pursuit of
Authentic Crafts," for
National Geographic Traveler.
I am very excited about this opportunity and welcome your feedback.
This month's column is about Chinese silk:
With the flick of a cigarette lighter, a Shanghai merchant sets the fringe of a silk scarf ablaze. My jaw drops as the fringe singes, then disintegrates into a tiny smoldering pile of fine ash. The merchant smiles. Yes, I know the "burn test" is designed to amaze tourists and differentiate authentic silks from plastic-smelling synthetic threads that curl or melt when burned. Still, it's impressive that even in China—a country known for mass production—some things remain provably real.
Happy winter!
Laura
Laura's Black Book
Arctic Artisans
Santa's elves are not the only ones toiling away at the North Pole this
time of year, it seems. Inuit carvers living inside the Arctic
Circle--in conditions that most of us would find unimaginable--carve
objects of exquisite beauty from bone, ivory, stone, even caribou
antlers. It's not an easy trek, but for those in search of a truly
unique work of traditional hand craftsmanship, the rewards could hardly
be greater.
Kinngait Co-operative (West Baffin Eskimo Co-op), Cape Dorset, Canada, Tel. (866) 686-2888. www.nunavuttourism.com
News
Italian Jewelry
If you want to learn more about the
history of Italian jewelry,
pick up a copy of this month's Primo Magazine, a great
publication of interest to the Italian-American community. Author Reem
Nourallah interviewed me about how the jewelry designs of the ancient
Etruscans and Romans inform the work that Italy's goldsmiths still carry
on today.
Read
more...
...And
More News
New Books!
Many of you have asked when you will see the next guidebook in the
Made in... series. I'm happy to report that
Made in France,
as well as the 2nd edition of
Made in Italy,
are now available for pre-order on amazon.com:
Both books will emerge from the long process of production in April 2008, and will be available in bookstores and online at that time. In the meantime, in the newsletter and on www.lauramorelli.com, I will be recommending shops, artisans, and markets where you can sample some of France and Italy's best handmade wares.
Ask Laura
What to Buy in Iceland
Nick R. writes:
Laura, What should I bring home from a trip to Iceland?
Nick:
Iceland boasts an impressive history of artisanship. In addition to its
world-famous Viking shipbuilding accomplishments, Icelandic artisans
also excel in Norse-themed jewelry, wood carving, and other pursuits
that can be carried out inside when the weather is cold! Woolen
goods are probably the most characteristic Icelandic souvenir. For the
best quality and authenticity, seek out weavers' cooperatives in
Reykjavík
and throughout the Icelandic
hinterland.
Glossary
Cabriole leg
A cabriole leg is an S-shaped
leg on a table, chair, or other piece of furniture. Most people
associate the cabriole leg with furniture made during the 18th century
in France and England. In France, the Rococo style wouldn't be what it
is without the cabriole leg, and this characteristic shape also makes
English Queen Anne furniture immediately recognizable. What most people
don't realize is that the cabriole leg was used as far back as antiquity
in Greece and in China, where it was incorporated into lacquered tables.
Technically, the cabriole leg is not easily
accomplished because of its arc shape. Originally furniture makers made
use of a lathe as well as a host of other specialized tools to
accomplish this feat. Today, most artisans are lucky enough to
have the help of a bandsaw.
Laura's Haunts
A Favorite Restaurant in Boston
If you like shellfish and
pasta, you'll be in heaven at The Daily Catch in Boston's Italian
neighborhood, the North End. To say The Daily Catch is casual is putting
it mildly. The North End location is little more than a hole in the
wall, an unceremonious handful of tables in view of the stove, a
chalkboard, and one waitress. The line forms all the way down the
sidewalk, full of people chatting about the restaurant's mouth-watering
black pasta made with squid ink. Don't knock it till you try it, and by
all means, get there early! A second seaport location possesses a few
more tables, but less charm than the original.
The Daily Catch, 323 Hanover Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02113, Tel. (617) 523-8567. www.dailycatch.com
In the Next Issue
In the next issue of The Real Deal, look for more on shopping for
the world's greatest craft traditions.
Until then, happy travels and happy shopping!
| Good luck! |
laura's column for national geographic traveler, "the genuine
article" |
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