As we’ve covered in earlier lists, artisan crafts involve the creation of objects that serve practical purposes while also holding artistic value. While some of the crafts here might not have any functional use beyond their aesthetic appeal, their value is heightened by drawing on the same skill sets as functional crafts. This compilation focuses on the more unique and lesser-known artisan crafts, while also incorporating popular suggestions from previous entries. I’ve included as much detailed and relevant information as possible for each craft, although some descriptions are more extensive than others. Feel free to share your own craft suggestions in the comments!
10. Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw refers to the art of carving and etching the byproducts of marine mammals, primarily the bones and teeth of sperm whales, whale baleen, and walrus tusks. This craft emerged on whaling vessels around the 1750s in the Pacific Ocean and continued until the cessation of commercial whaling. While largely a thing of the past, scrimshaw remains practiced both as a hobby and a trade by commercial artisans. Those who specialize in scrimshaw are known as scrimshanders.
9. Glassblowing

Glassblowing is the art of shaping glass by inflating molten material into a bubble, or parison, using a blowpipe. This technique takes advantage of a property of molten glass called inflation, which involves expanding a heated blob of glass by blowing air into it. There are numerous ways to shape and color the glass, though items created through this process often maintain a round or spiral form.
8. Taxidermy

Taxidermy is regarded as both an art form and a practical skill, serving various purposes for practitioners. Taxidermists may engage in this craft for artistic reasons, for anatomical study, or to serve clients such as hunters and museums. The process involves preparing, preserving, and mounting animal skins for display, with vertebrates being the preferred subjects due to their ease of positioning. There are two primary subcategories of taxidermy: rogue taxidermy, where creatures are created that do not exist in reality—often inspired by myths and folklore—and anthropomorphic taxidermy, in which animals are dressed as humans or depicted in human-like activities. The latter was especially popular in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, though it’s not as common today.
7. Batik

Batik is a fabric traditionally crafted using a wax-resist dyeing technique. This method, and its distinctive patterns, are found across Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore. The traditional colors—indigo, dark brown, and white—represent the three principal Hindu gods: Brahmā, Visnu, and Śiva, reflecting the natural availability of dyes in these shades. Specific patterns were reserved for the elite; wider stripes or larger wavy lines were often a symbol of higher social rank. Different regions of Indonesia have developed their own patterns, frequently inspired by daily life, including motifs of flowers, animals, folklore, and people. Pesisir batik, from northern Java's coastal cities, is especially vivid, blending influences from Javanese, Arab, Chinese, and Dutch cultures.
6. Huichol Art

Huichol art, a tradition with centuries of history, is now primarily crafted using materials like yarn and small beads in Central America, replacing earlier elements such as clay, stone, and vegetable dyes. This art includes the creation of beaded earrings, necklaces, anklets, masks, and intricate yarn paintings. A key link between modern yarn art and beaded items is the use of traditional patterns that have long been associated with spiritual communication and divine connection. The adoption of commercial materials has made it possible to design more complex patterns with brighter colors and greater versatility in expressing these ancient motifs. Additionally, India is home to a notable Huichol art movement that uses similar techniques and aesthetics.
5. Bookbinding

Bookbinding is the process of assembling a book by binding together multiple sheets of paper or other materials, typically by affixing a cover to the pages. The history of bookmaking is rich, with various cultures contributing unique techniques and resources. Early examples include Roman scrolls, wax tablets, Greek manuscripts, Indian palm-leaf books, and Mayan codices. Today, we see the familiar paperback and hardcover books in bookstores, thanks to modern binding methods. One such method, featured in the image, is Coptic stitching, a technique designed by Jessica Buzanko. It requires a precise balance of tension between the paper folds and the stitches across the spine, ensuring a secure and functional binding.
To quote her experience on crafting this book, “this binding technique is used on hard cover books and can prove to be very difficult at times with knots and tension. I figured this out when I broke the Irish linen I was using twice and had to re-do the entire book once it was actually sewn together because it was not tight enough.”
4. Psikhelekedana

Psikhelekedana is a traditional art form from southern Mozambique that dates back to at least colonial times. Psikhelekedana craft miniature models consisting of small wood carvings painted in bright, glossy colors. At the time the sculptures reflected the agricultural society they lived in as well as depicting wild animals such as birds, snakes or crocodiles. They would also craft miniature spoons, bowls and other household objects. With the sprawl of urbanization Psikhelekedana began to take on new forms and evolve to represent the times with objects such as vehicles or technology taking the forefront of Psikhelekedana artistry. Everyday life was depicted as well, with city life being depicted more and more commonly instead of the agricultural representations from colonial times. In the 1980s a trend emerged where entire scenes would be crafted by the artists. This trend became more and more dominant as time progressed, and especially at the end of the Mozambican Civil War in 1992 (a scene depicted from the war in the image above). Scenes that are depicted are usually based off of Mozambican history, such as the arrival of Vasco da Gama, the Carlos Cardoso murder trial, or the 2000 Mozambique flood. Another example of Psikhelekedana depicting a business meeting can be seen here.
3. Experimental Lutherie

Experimental luthiers are artisans who design unique instruments, often modifying existing parts or creating entirely new instruments. These instruments, most commonly used in experimental rock and jazz, are rarely mass-produced like mainstream instruments such as the guitar or violin. However, some innovations—like the vibrato bar on the guitar or pedals on a piano—have become essential features of their respective instruments. The piano, for instance, once had six pedals. Among experimental instruments, the Chapman Stick is the most well-known. It belongs to the guitar family and features 8-12 strings, offering a broader range of notes than a standard 6-string guitar. Developed in the early 1970s by Emmett Chapman, the Stick is a fully polyphonic chordal instrument that allows for basslines, melodies, chords, and textures to be played simultaneously. It is played by fretting the strings, akin to a hammer-on technique, without the need for plucking or strumming. Many players compare the Chapman Stick to a keyboard due to its note range and ability to perform multiple parts (bass, chords, melody) at once.
2. Lutherie

Lutherie refers to the craft of building stringed instruments, such as violins and guitars. This field is generally split into two categories: makers of plucked or strummed string instruments and makers of bowed string instruments, who often work alongside archetiers. An archetier specializes in crafting bows, while a luthier is skilled in creating and assembling string instruments themselves. The crafting of string instruments has a long tradition, especially in classical music, though many innovations have shaped the modern instruments we know today. This brings us to our next entry.
1. Rock Balancing Art

Stone balancing is a simple yet captivating form of art. It demands both precision and discipline from the artist, as they carefully position rocks one atop the other in intricate formations. No aids like adhesives, wires, or supports are used in this process; the balance is achieved solely through skill. This practice can be performed as an art display or merely an experimental endeavor where the artist might photograph the structure before returning the rocks to their original location (as many public spaces and national parks have regulations against disturbing nature). At its core, stone balancing is about arranging rocks in creative ways that require patience and a deep sensitivity to the elements. The style depicted above is known as pure balance.