Our Goals
Why the Directory exists and what it does
How We Judge
How we select artists to be included
Our History
A look at Directories past
Directory Tags
Directory tags assure historical accuracy and quality
TOP ARTISTS
Current Directory
The artists selected for the 2016 Directory of Traditional American Crafts.
Crafts by Type
See who has been selected as best in America in making specific crafts.
Artists by Name
Find out more about an artist selected for the Directory.
Directory by Year
A look at Directories past
ARTIST AREA
News
What’s going on in the artist community
2022 Application
View and download the 2022 Directory application
Selected Artists
Order promotional materials
DEPARTMENTS
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Circulation
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Editorial
For those who read or want to write for the magazine
Directory of Traditional American Crafts
Artist of the Day
We'd like to introduce an artist whose work was selected
as one of the best in America in the category in the 2020 Directory of Traditional American Crafts:
The deadline is past, so we are no longer accepting entries for the 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts. If you have applied, we are processing applications now and soon will be submiting them for anonymous judging. The 2021 Directory will run in the August 2021 issue of Early American Life.
2020 Directory of Traditional American Crafts
See the latest artist and their work selected best in America.
Crafts by Type
See who has been selected as best in America in making specific crafts.
Artists by Name
Find out more about an artist selected for the Directory.
Directory by Year
See the Directory listings for previous years.
About the Directory
The Directory of Traditional American Crafts is an honor bestowed on a handful
of artisans who work in traditional media, styles, and crafts. In addition the Directory is also a buying guide. It
presents to you a selection of the best historically informed handwork in
America today. The Directory will help you select the best furniture,
pottery, ironwork, decorative objects, and more for period-correct
decorating, collecting, or movie-making.
Jurying and Hallmarking
An artist who
has been selected for the Directory has had his or her work thoroughly evaluated by a panel of
experts. (Click here to
find out more about how we judge the Directory.) Because Directory artists so accurately replicate the styles and
techniques of historic work, they might be mistaken for antiques. To
assure this high-quality work is appreciated for the true quality of its
modern craftsmanship, the
Directory requires all work to be hallmarked. (Click here
to find out more about this policy.)
BACKGROUND
