Just as we are facing a mass extinction of animal species, we are also witnessing  the demise of art and crafts that have developed over generations. While we all enjoy the fruits of mechanisation, advanced materials and production technology, the flip side of the coin is the demise of crafts and skills acquired through practice and the handing down of knowledge from generation to generation. Not to speak of the individuality of each item – never two hand-made items are ever quite the same, attesting to the individuality of the maker.