The Beauty of Every Day Things

Our lives are filled with objects that are our constant companions. According to Soetsu Yanagi, they should be made with care and built to last, treated with respect and even affection, and should be natural, simple, sturdy and safe, an aesthetic fulfilment of our practical needs. Long revered as the authority on craftsmanship and Japanese aesthetics, Yanagi devoted his life to defending the value of craft. Inspired by the artisans he met on his travels through Japan and Korea, this book is a defence of modest, honest, handcrafted objects, from teacups to jars to paper.