[Jewelry making - Article 00111] - Re: [Orchid] What will people pay for...

[noraligia]

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    Joel, When I put my answer together I refrained from saying
    "titanium and diamond ring" because I was pretty sure someone would
    come back with "the cost of titanium+the cost of
    diamonds+labor+overhead+profit=$5000 (a reasonable price). 

    The point I wanted to make is that IMHO something (jewelry or
    whatever) is not necessarily less "art/good design/valuable" because
    the materials are everyday items or not expensive. It seemed to me
    that the jewelry in the article was being dissed because if was made
    of inexpensive material (and, I'm not forgetting, some just plain
    out didn't like it :-). 

    I know someone who makes wonderful pieces incorporating aluminum cut
    from found cans. The design is good, the craftsmanship is extremely
    good- I don't think he should charge less because he's using part of
    a drink can instead of textured silver ('course he doesn't pretend
    to the customer that the can is anything but). My brother-in-law
    makes baskets from previously used materials, like traffic signs and
    house wrap. He's been in the Smithsonian Craft show a few times. 
    And his work seems to sell better at a higher price than it ever did
    at a lower price, because he now sells to collectors rather than
    people who just want a basket (no offense to "usable basket"
    makers). 

    If we stick to the idea that a design is only valuable if the
    components are valuable then we run the risk of missing out on great
    design ideas, because we dismiss the design ideas before we have a
    chance to understand and appreciate them. And, of course, there's
    always learning to see the everyday in a new way. 

    And Kay, quality of execution is VERY important to me (sorry if I
    wasn't clear). I have turned away from what might have been good
    design because the craftsmanship was bad-- I guess that's my
    blinder. 

--Nora
Getting off my soap box NOW! 

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