"This publication ... represents a significant step forward in devising a structured methodological approach to assessing excellence in the artistic crafts. By examining and comparing Italian and European legislation and regulations governing craft production, the authors were able to identify a number of recurring concept-terms underpinning craft excellence.These were then narrowed down to a list of 11 criteria: those directly related to the artisan's skill (competence, creativity, interpretation, talent, training); those regarding relational and territorial aspects (territory, tradition); and those concerned with the product itself (authenticity, craftsmanship, innovation, originality). Interviews with leading master artisans from different European countries and influential experts in the field of the artistic crafts, backed up by a nationwide survey to gauge the views of the wider Italian population, helped to confirm the validity of the matrix and the classification system that emerged from this process ... The proposed assessment matrix not only serves as a new tool to aid our understanding and assessment of excellence, but also offers invaluable support to those who aspire to achieve that excellence."--Front cover flap.