Handicrafts and Cottage Industries

Handicrafts were a central part of everyday life and culture until the end of the 19th century, when industrially manufactured goods began to replace hand-made household items. The transition was slower in rural areas. Women’s handicrafts also provided a means of earning additional income for the family.

With industrialization, handicrafts shifted from daily chores to hobbies, luxury items, and curiosities. At the same time, the craft hobby took on artistic, commercial, and political dimensions, as the significance of handicrafts as expressions of local identity and cultural heritage became more pronounced.

Caption: Handicrafts made by students at Hirvikoski School in the early 20th century.
Photo: Loimaa-Seura Collection.