The Story of Tools

Book excerpt: Axes, drills, chisels, shaping tools, and more are examined by masters of handmade trades, from blacksmiths, silversmiths, and spoon makers to sculptors, gardeners, and architects. Tools make our lives better. They help us to measure, plan, create, maintain, repair, and make our ideas a reality. They are empowering, giving us the potential to do things for ourselves. Since pre-historic man sharpened his first stone into a cutting implement, we have relied on tools to help us in carrying out even simple tasks. Nowadays, every industry has its own set of tools. What would a painter be without a brush, or a gardener without his fork? Divided into three beautifully photographed chapters--Wood and Stone; Earth, Metal, and Glass; and Material, Cloth, and Decoration--this book tells the story of its 25 featured tools through the eyes of those whose craft and livelihood depend on them. It seeks to explore our relationship with these most fundamental of objects. Many are rightfully considered as design icons, while others reveal the improvisational skills of their owners, tweaked and adjusted to suit specific jobs through trial-and-error. Celebrating culture, skill, time, and dedication, this is the perfect read for anyone with a penchant for tools, crafts, and beautiful design.