This visually stunning love letter to the art of craft takes readers inside Europe’s most illustrious—and in many cases endangered—decorative arts workshops to profile how artisans continue to maintain the highest centuries-old standards of workmanship and creativity.

Beginning in the middle ages, ateliers were established as places for European artists to work and teach their crafts. Centuries later most of these spaces have disappeared, but a select few continue to produce some of the world’s most celebrated and sought-after objects in the areas of crystal, ceramics, wrought iron, fabric, bookbinding, mosaic, wood paneling and more.

John Whelan and Oskar Proctor traveled throughout Europe to document these important spaces, both to celebrate them and to preserve their disappearing ideals. Ranging from the well-known to the obscure, this volume takes readers inside dozens of ateliers from Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Sumptuous double-page spreads feature alluring photography, and fascinating background texts tell their stories.

By shining a light on their collective value as well as their individual expertise, this book offers both a historic evaluation of how ateliers have been shaped by modern forces—and also a clarion call for their preservation.

John Whelan is a specialist in heritage design and creative direction. His heritage projects include a revival of La Brasserie Française, France’s most iconic culinary export, and his clients include brands such as Cire Trudon, the oldest candlemaker in France. His work has been profiled by Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, and The Times (London). He lives in Istanbul, Turkey.

Oskar Proctor is a photographer specializing in still life and interior imagery. He has worked with numerous magazines, museums, designers, artists and publishers, including two books by Viktor Wynd published by Prestel. He lives in Kent, England.