noun
A person skilled in a craft, especially one involving detailed handwork or decorative techniques. Often used for traditional crafts.
彼は銀細工師として有名だ。
He is famous as a silversmith.
その細工師は木で美しい彫刻を作る。
The artisan creates beautiful carvings out of wood.
工芸家 refers to an artist in the field of crafts, often with a more artistic or modern connotation, whereas 細工師 is more traditional and hands-on.
Compound of 細工 (saiku, 'fine work, craftsmanship') and 師 (shi, 'master, specialist'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to refer to skilled artisans.