ABSTRACT
Inspired by Central Asian tent and textile crafts, this chapter explores what constitutes Central Asian craft knowledge, how this relates to regional perceptions of skill and learning, and how craft knowledge has been and is communicated. Focusing on felt-making and women’s textile skills, especially among herding and semi-nomadic groups, the chapter explores how contrasting contexts and approaches to learning impact on communication of craft skill. On the one hand, the fostering of textile skill is shown to be categorically non-declarative, with an emphasis on ‘showing an interest’ and ‘watching and learning’. On the other, dynasties of craft practitioners which stress skill being ‘in the blood’ and the transmission of knowledge through dreams bring both a hereditary and a shamanist element to this understanding of how mastery is attained. Through a comparison of skilled craft production across time and place, the chapter argues that Central Asian approaches to skill and learning have much to contribute to contemporary theories of learning, apprenticeship and technology.
