Origins and future of national and international artisanal excellence. What is craftsmanship? How do you determine excellence? The answers lie in identifying and carefully analyzing the constitutive elements of fine craftsmanship to arrive at a definition of excellence that is as objective as possible. Only then can we measure the true value of the finest craftsmanship, and celebrate the outstanding work of the artisans behind it. This publication represents a significant step forward in devising a structured methodological approach to assessing excellence in the artistic crafts. 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.