Fungal attachments: Amadou-making across vernacular crafts and contemporary arts.

This article focuses on the fungal material amadou, exploring its traditional craft production in the Romanian village of Corund and its recontextualization within contemporary arts and design. Amadou, derived from the tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius), is a soft, pliable material historically used for kindling and handicrafts, whose making in Corund remains a culturally significant but vulnerable tradition maintained by a few local families. The study highlights the sensory and emotional attachments to amadou among artisans and exhibition audiences, emphasizing its tactile qualities that evoke familiarity and comfort. It also critically examines the ethical and practical challenges of adapting amadou for sustainable design and commercial use, advocating for respectful collaboration with artisans to preserve the craft and promote sustainable harvesting.