Master of arts and guardian of crafts

A sentinel of tradition is helping ensure we can continue to enjoy fineries steeped in history

It may just look like a button to you and to me, but the wonderful little knot that is the apple of Huang Yuangsung's eye represents no less than centuries of history.

In fact so enthralled is Huang with these intricately made curios that they have helped to keep him tied up for more than half his life, from a day in 1972 when his eyes first fell on one, attached to the clothing of a farmer, when he beheld it more as art than as a mere fastener.