ancient chinese, artisanal, craftsmanship, hair health, handmade, healing, rehabilitation, tradition, traditional crafts, virtuous living, wood combs

A Story of Healing and Tradition: The Master Craftsman Xianyi Chan

Since he was young, Taiwanese craftsman Xianyi Chan has always been fascinated with wood and woodwork. Together with his brother, from a young age, they started making wood hair clips and hairpins for money. But people asked him: “You are selling us hairpins, but before we put them on, we have to comb our hair. ...

Nathan Machoka

A wood comb.

A Wooden Flying Machine Constructed in China 2,000 Years Ago

The world-famous Wright brothers are the inventors of the modern airplane, taking the first controlled flight on December 17, 1903. However, like something out of a science fiction or fantasy novel, a wooden flying machine already existed more than 2,000 years ago in China. The craftsman Lu Ban In ancient China, there were countless mysterious ...

Tatiana Denning

A wooden flying machine.

Paolo Olbi: Preserving Venetian Bookbinding

The complex patterns and brilliant colors are the first things you observe when visiting Paolo Olbi’s bookshop in Venice, Italy, next to the Ca’ Foscari bridge. His meticulously arranged handmade books, notebooks, and stationery are like antique postcards.  Paolo Olbi, a 78-year-old native Venetian who is well dressed and groomed, is both a caregiver and ...

Ratul Saha

Paolo Olbi's bookshop.