flint knapping

I find it is very helpful to me in my work to occasionally go and spend some time working with another craftsman. To learn new unrelated skills often is very inspirational, I guess I am lucky in that after working in the crafts for many years I know many of the best traditional craftspeople in the country. I used to do shows with Phil Harding of time team and loved to sit and watch him knapping flint, I swapped some of my bowls for a pair of earings for Nicola.


It was something I always fancied trying and I have finally booked myself on a day course. So Daniel Carpenter from the Heritage Crafts Association and myself are booked to go and see John Lord for a days knapping. John worked for English Heritage at Grimes Graves for many years before setting up as a full time napper. He has done a lot of work for flint buildings as well as lots of replicas and demonstrations for museums, he also taught a young Ray Mears how to work flint and make primitive tools.

Here is some of John's work, I don't expect to come home with anything this good looking but it is always interesting to explore a new material.



And here is his website

http://www.flintknapping.co.uk/

and finally an amusing youtube about the effect of bronze on flint knappers.