Mastering a craft can take decades, but there are plenty of ways to get a taste and appreciation for the workmanship that goes into fine objects in a much shorter span of time. These hands-on short courses offer an experienced insight into creating precious works, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses into some world-famous ateliers.
Van Cleef & Arpels L'Ecole
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Immerse yourself in the sparkling world of Van Cleef & Arpels at its school of jewellery arts on the glamorous Place Vendome in Paris. Its series of short courses range from mocking up a gouache – a rendering that helps the buyer envisage and the artist create the jewel – to learning different setting methods for the final stones. While you're there, avail yourself of the opportunity to learn unusual and breathtakingly intricate decorative techniques used by the maison to adorn its stunning watches and jewellery, including different forms of enamelling and the ancient art of Japanese Urushi lacquer.
Classes from €100; lecolevancleefarpels.com
Hand & Lock
Over its 250 years, Hand & Lock has been responsible for some of the most eye-catching embroidery seen on the runway, the red carpet and adorning the British royal family. It now shares its centuries of knowledge through a plethora of courses run from its central London workshop, from one-day sessions where you can try your hand at monogramming, beading and goldwork, to more intensive week-long courses that allow you to delve deeper into haute couture techniques. It also partners with the Williamsburg School of Needlework, offering a similar roster of skills in Virginia, USA.
Classes from £95; handembroidery.com
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"109175","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"788","width":"1400"}}]]
London Glassblowing
Drop by this Bermondsey gallery-cum-workshop and towards the back of the space you're likely to catch a glimpse of a glass artist at work. But the best way to truly understand this most malleable and magical of materials is to have a go at glassblowing yourself. A full one-day course will introduce you to the basics, and you will be rewarded at the end with your own handcrafted creations, which you can pick up after they've spent 36 hours in the kiln.
One-day class is £450; londonglassblowing.co.uk
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
Texas and Yelp are suing each other over crisis pregnancy centersTalking Point A battle over free speech and abortion rights heads to court
-
Dianne Feinstein, history-making Democratic US senator, dies at 90
The Explainer Her colleagues celebrate her legacy as a trailblazer who cleared the path for other women to follow
-
Why is the government on the brink of a shutdown?
Today's Big Question GOP infighting is bringing the country to a standstill, but even Republicans aren't entirely sure why
-
Cubitts: an eye for the unique
In Depth Founder Tom Broughton on harnessing traditional hand-craftsmanship and modern technologies for a new chapter in London spectacle making
-
The daughter also rises: remembering the work of May Morris
In Depth A new exhibition at the William Morris Gallery focuses on his youngest child, one of the forgotten heroines of the Arts and Crafts movement
-
Petersham Nurseries comes to Covent Garden
In Depth Managing director Lara Boglione on bringing a taste of the popular Richmond garden shop and cafe to central London
-
Grain & Knot: A cut above
In Depth Founder Sophie Sellu on leaving her office job to start her own business hand-carving wooden utensils
-
The New Craftsmen: Discover beautiful British crafts
In Depth Co-founder Natalie Melton talks about the challenges facing makers today and the joy of handmade homeware
-
London Craft Week: Discover makers, designers and artists
In Depth Over 100 of the UK's top talents are opening their studios for tours and masterclasses for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at their work
-
Cheaney & Sons: The changing business of brogues
In Depth William Church of the Northampton-based shoemakers talks about the future of British-made brogues
-
Artist Peter Layton on the sheer joy of glass
In Depth The renowned founder of London Glassblowing makes a clear case for an underappreciated art form
