Fine Crafts & Artisan Work

Fine Craft Shopping & Artisan Works - ME Statewide

New England is a wonderful place to shop for fine crafts and handmade artisan work because of its long history, economic ingenuity, and rural traditions. A sterling example is silverwork and pewter work crafted by Paul Revere, which continues to influence today’s artists. Most states have guilds of artists, artisans, and crafts makers that promote local artistry and bring artisan products to the market. Local fine crafts often can be found at the larger farmers markets and festivals.

Maine has abundant forests and a long history of logging, and spinoff of this natural resource is crafts from wood. Among Maine’s practitioners of artisan woodworking is the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, ME, which exhibits handcrafted furniture and woodworking. Other crafts are found in many retail spaces, among them the Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner, ME, with work by more than 300 Maine craft artists. Bar Harbor, ME is home to the Abbe Museum, which honors local Native American tribes and also sells American Indian crafts like baskets and pottery and jewelry.