We just launched our new “Craftsmanship is Risk” t-shirts in the store. We are offering this design in 3 new colors. Check all the colors out here. As a thank you for your support, we are offering free shipping on these shirts for the first week. Also note that we have now discounted our previous “Artisan” shirt to $18. We don’t have every size in stock but if you want one of these, just know we will not be doing another run. All our designs are a one-time deal. They will only be in our store as long as we have them in stock.
It’s not news that the term “workmanship of risk” has made David Pye famous in woodworking circles. The term was coined by Pye in the mid 20th century to describe workmanship that depends on the skill of the maker rather than complex jigs which ensure “perfection”. This is seen mostly clearly in tools like hatchets, chisels, and even to some degree hand planes.
This concept has been passed around woodworking circles for years but what is less known is that Pye developed the term as a definition for the word “craftsmanship”. On page 20 of his Nature and Art of Workmanship, he writes,
“If I must ascribe meaning to the word craftsmanship, I shall say as a first approximation that it means simply workmanship using any kind of technique or apparatus, in which the quality of the result is not predetermined, but depends on the judgment, dexterity, and care which the maker exercises as he works. The essential idea is that the quality of the result is continually at risk during the process of making; and so I shall call this kind of workmanship ‘The Workmanship of Risk’: an uncouth phrase, but at least descriptive.”
We think seeing the essence of craft bound up with the “riskiness” of working with unregulated tools is a dead on. There is a lot of skillful workmanship in the world but the one that we at M&T particularly want to celebrate is the one called “craftsmanship”.
This shirt is for those who want to celebrate handcraft and so we wear it with pride to know we are part of a rich tradition of woodworking passed down from our ancestors. We hope you wear this shirt along with us on this journey to relearn how to work with our hands by the sweat of our brow.
Front Design: Roman woodworker and M&T logo
Back Design: "CRAFTSMANSHIP IS RISK."
100% Combed fine jersey cotton. Incredibly comfortable and soft vintage feel.
Printed in Alabama by fellow woodworking enthusiast Shannon Brantley (http://flannelandfloral.com and @nubthumb). We are really impressed with the quality and feel of these shirts and think you will be too.
P.s. We've got an exciting announcement next week for you international folks...