We spotted the craftsman first, alone in his workshop, a cubby barely larger than a closet. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of such stalls in the medina in Fez, an ancient city within a city of winding paths and centuries-old artisanship, where vendors tout their leather and oils on every corner. But this stall stood out. It was nearly bare, not crammed as most of the others were with doodads to be fussed and negotiated over. A few tools hung on the wall, alongside the red Moroccan flag with its green pentagram, and some old photos of the craftsman, now white-haired and wearing a traditional long robe.

Read the article: Inside the Walls of Fez