In this paper we re-examine artisanal family enterprises within the changing historical and sociological milieu, and reflect on the adaptational strategies of small scale, artisanal entities in the context of globalization induced rapid socio-economic and cultural changes. More specifically, we re-examine the lived experiences of artisans who have traditionally been involved in the ancient craft of bone carving, within the grand theoretical debates of social change such as tradition and modernity, past and future, change and continuity (De Massis et al. 2016; Erdogan et. al. 2020; Sasaki et. al. 2020; Suddaby and Jaskiewicz 2020). Through a rich, unique, and historical context located in India, we bring forward a new understanding of artisanal family enterprise as a historically sustained form of socio-economic organization that continues to remain embedded in traditional institutions, and practices, but does not shy from embracing creativity, innovation, and technology (Ganzin et. Al., 2024). Our empirical study shows distinct patterns in the long life of an artisan family, which may be classified as ‘traditional’ or ‘modern’, but rather than prescribing to the discrete dichotomies of change and continuity, and the theoretical binaries of tradition and modernity, we suggest a rather fluid, and dynamic relationship between craft enterprises, their long-held but equally dynamic traditions which not only determine the organization of craft, but also of the family, and globalization induced social and cultural changes which the family frequently navigates with, in order to survive.