At the New Frick, Magicians Come Out of the Woodwork

At the New Frick, Magicians Come Out of the Woodwork

Welcome to the latest installment of “This Old House,” the Henry Clay Frick mansion edition. The sumptuous 1914 Beaux-Arts residence is reopening to the public on April 17 after a $220 million, four-year renovation, and with a series of member events this week. For the first time in 90 years, …

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A Mathematical ‘Fever Dream’ Hits the Road

A Mathematical ‘Fever Dream’ Hits the Road

Ingrid Daubechies, a mathematician at Duke University, is an expert on many matters, not least the baking of cookies in the shape of pi, the mathematical constant that equals the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, or roughly 3.14159. A sugar cookie recipe works fine, Dr. Daubechies says. …

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Artisans in Japan Uphold the Indigenous Ainu Culture

Artisans in Japan Uphold the Indigenous Ainu Culture

At the entrance to Akan-Mashu National Park, known for its lakes and bubbling mud pools, red torii gates stood out against the white snow that had blanketed this part of eastern Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. On a park path, I suddenly saw a Yezo sika deer, with its spotted …

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He Makes Giant Puppets to Dance Through Mexican Streets

He Makes Giant Puppets to Dance Through Mexican Streets

At the entrance to Hermes Arroyo’s workshop stood a collection of giant paper-and-paste figures, taller than the doorway and dolled up in finery — ready at any moment for one of the many parades and festivals held throughout the year on the cobblestone streets of this city in central Mexico. …

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In Sardinia, a Showcase for Craft and Culture Rises From Ruins

In Sardinia, a Showcase for Craft and Culture Rises From Ruins

This article is part of our Design special section about the reverence for handmade objects. It took nearly five years for Kyre Chenven and Ivano Atzori to buy a cluster of ruined houses in southern Sardinia. The single-story buildings, or rather, the skeletons that remained, once made up a furriadroxu, …

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Craftsmanship Becomes a Focus of Jeweled Watches

Craftsmanship Becomes a Focus of Jeweled Watches

Jeweled timepieces typically dazzle with sparkling gemstones set on glittering surfaces. But some brands now are prioritizing artisanal collaborations — so their jeweled watches showcase not just extravagant stones but also the craftsmanship behind the creations. The fusion of diverse skills and materials has been driving the fabrication of intricate …

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