The Influence of Women in Arts and Crafts around the World

Even though technology has highly evolved from recent years, the term “craft” is still referred to as activities that involve some sort of skill, or a dedication to a specific object and tradition.

As also each culture in the world has a different idea of tradition, they still remain true to the idea of craft.

Women’s rights around the world are also an important factor of their craft skill.

When women live in countries with very little input about the workplace and they are to stay and work in the home , they often have a more traditional skill for crafts or art.

They only know the skill that their own mothers or grandmothers taught them for married life.

In countries where women are thought to be equal, their craft skill is more appreciated and they are able to show their talents in the work force.

In traditional Asia , the primary influence of woman is to tend the flock and take care of the home.

Most of their daily activities involve the “craft” that so many of the women before them knew, but their activities are not granted with pay or recognition due to the fact that the men believed that it is her duty.

In India, the role for the woman is slightly more advanced. The area is less traditional in the means that the woman should stay home and tend to the house.

However, the woman is usually thought to still take part in traditional crafts, such as making saris or clothing wraps.

Women in the Americas , the widespread of an art or craft is passed down from one person to another in ways much differently than in other countries.

While in small villages across the world, women are teaching their skills to their daughters to use during their marriage, the women in America are learning a skill to advance their place in society.

In the Pacific region women were the traditional pottery makers or basket weavers, now, because of the influence of women in the craft, the men are now assisting and learning the technique from them.

Women have also taken on an opposite role. While in previous years, the men were the mask carvers and the main tribal leadership roles, the women are now participating.

The Australian aboriginal women share an interdependent relationship with the men by being the person responsible for child rearing, food, healing, law making, painting, and performing.

The influence of women maintains the knowledge of traditions through various ceremonies and through their paintings and crafts.

In previous years, the women of Africa were not allowed to show or sell their artwork.

While the women are now able to venture out of the home and sell their crafts, their primary role is still to produce and raise children.

Due to this, much of the African art made by women has images of fertility or mother and child.

Arts - Crafts - Gifts - Posters

Australia

• Aboriginal Art Online Gallery one of the largest and most comprehensive on line Galleries of authentic Australian Aboriginal Art and Artefacts. Enjoy the wonderful talent of the artists presented, which reflects their country and a culture which is timeless.
• Australia Gift Shop sells Australian gifts & souvenirs featuring Australian Aboriginal art designs painted by Aboriginal artists and depicting myth and tradition. We also offer Australiana gift & souvenir items which represent Aussie icons or display distinctive images of the Land Down Under.
• Posters and Prints of Australian Aboriginal Art and Culture, just type in Aborginal Art in the search box on this page.

Africa

• Strictly Africa is the number one source for African Masks and African Art on the web. In addition to African Masks and African Art, we carry a vast inventory of African Musical Instruments, African Animal Figurines, Kente Cloth, and other African Decor.
• Africa Boutik authentic African products of quality and value including African Art, Sculptures, African Masks, Djembes, Leather Bags, Traditional African Clothing, Handcrafted Jewelry, African Home Decoration.
• Posters and Prints on African native art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your interest in the search box on this page.
• Egyptian statues and hand painted papyrus art; Canopic Jars; Oil Burners; Candle Holders; genuine Egyptian Leather gifts; Scarabs; Pyramids;Egyptian Gifts and much more. Egyptian Dreams are also a supplier to the film, television and theatre industry.
• Posters and Prints on Egyptian art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your interest in the search box on this page.

Asia - Including China and India

• Chinese Art Store The Chinese Art Store Web site offers you one of the most extensive collections of Chinese art available online. Our Chinese art collection includes wall scrolls, watercolor paintings, calligraphy and too many other artworks to list here on this page.
• Artistic Chinese Creations We are professional craft artists. It is a great joy of life to us. We want to share this kind of pleasure with more people and let them know the traditional crafts of China
• Chinese Calligraphy Store is an art gallery offering a large collection of Chinese calligraphy symbol paintings and other art, get your name done in Chinese characters.
• Chinese Jade Jewellery Store offers one of the finest collections of Chinese jade jewelry available online. Many items we offer are one-of-a-kind and handmade in China by skilled artisans.
• Exotic India, Internet's largest resource for India's art, sculpture, jewellery, books, music, paintings, history, religion, articles and culture.
• Vietnam Artwork a leading online Vietnamese Art gallery, the highest quality handmade Vietnamese art, such as: Vietnamese embroidery paintings , Vietnamese silk paintings, Asian ceramic paintings, Vietnamese lacquer paintings, mother of pearl paintings, Oriental wood vases, Vietnamese water puppets, stone boxes, and more.
• Japan Art and Gifts provides products that exhibit the flair of Japanese design, some of the products are hand made by talented artisans who spend weeks to produce just one piece.
• Thailand Handicrafts a wonderful collection of hand made craft, jewellery and gifts representing the best in Thai art and culture.
• Posters and Prints of Chinese art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your preference in the search box on this page,
• Posters and Prints of Asian art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your preference in the search box on this page,
• Posters and Prints of Indian art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your preference in the search box on this page,

Americas

• Native Art Gallery. Learn about native american indian culture & traditions, American Indian languages, arts & crafts, and native american history from the tribal perspective. Current events, news, stories & issues of concern to native americans. Education for non-indians on cultures, beliefs & perspectives of the indigenous native americans of North America.
• Gallery Canada works directly with the Inuit artists of the Central Arctic and we offer a diverse range of stone carvings and sculptures, prints, paintings, jewelry and tapestries to satisfy the needs of all Inuit Art collectors as well as discriminating gift and corporate buyers.
• Posters and Prints on North American native art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your interest in the search box on this page.

Pacific

• Maori and Polynesian Arts and Crafts Hand crafted Products New Zealand Maori art and bone carving designs, from the very traditional pieces, Learn about the proud New Zealand Maori people - background, and interesting information on them
• Pacific and Maori Gifts We are proud to present a selection of products that represent Maori Art and Maori Culture. There are a wide range of materials used including Pounamu or Maori Greenstone (Maori Jade)
• Posters and Prints, to view a wide range of posters and prints on this subject, just type in your preference in the search box on this page.