SHAPERS OF THE WORLD

Craftspeople are the vibrant heart of any place, repositories of its priceless artisanship and timeless stories

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THE NEW-AGE ARTISAN, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

Belgian-born artist Laurence Leenaert (pictured, here and opening pages, at Lrnce) is well established in the contemporary Moroccan design vernacular through Lrnce, which produces handmade goods, including textiles and ceramics decorated in bold, fluid geometric patterns. Leenaert works closely with local craftsmen in creating the artistic vision for her made-in-Marrakech brand. Her studio in Sidi Ghanem serves as a showroom and events hub, where clients can come by to view works and learn about her inspiration.

"I'm always drawing lines or cutting things out or incorporating elements based on what I see around me," she says. From Source Material by Tara Stevens Condé Nast Traveller UK Nov 2021

THE WOODEN TOY MAKERS, ORE MOUNTAINS, GERMANY

The specialty of these woodturners (pictured, Christian Werner) and wooden toy makers is Christmas trinkets. Nutcrackers, smokers, table pyramids except for the fairy lights for the Nordmann fir, pretty much everything for the big celebration is made in Germany's Ore Mountains. These little masterpieces are then loved all over the world. From Anchorage to Sydney, people put up these stunning Christmas decorations in their living rooms to usher in festive cheer. The handicrafts are advertised with posters in Japan, and their makers go on autograph tours in the USA. If you want to know exactly how the magic of Christmas is made, you have to visit the workshops. The capital of "Christmas Land," as the state of Saxony advertises the Ore Mountains, is Seiffen, a town of only about 2,000 residents, but around 140 craft workshops.

From Cut From The Same Cloth by Kalle Harberg Condé Nast Traveller Germany Nov-Dec 2024