Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
I am accepting offers in the $10,000 range. What a deal! LOL!
$35,000 bonsai shears--discuss
- Thread starter rockm
- Start date
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
You might be interested in this post about a framed painting...
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/b...d-bonsai-from-the-also-rans.26744/post-435811
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
I respectfully differ. I think most people who purchase or act to excess, (one defines "excess" from one's own perspective) does so for the same reason that a certain party, whose name shall be withheld, did, "Because I could...". As long as you can afford it, it is neither right, nor wrong, but it is usually a method of inflating one's prestige much like a Puffer does when you catch one. Is the fish really too big to eat...
Coppersdad
Mame
I suggest the actual price that is paid for any item, including that bonsai or the shears, is what the seller is willing to accept and the buyer is willing to pay. It will never be one penny more or one penny less. That is the only thing that ever determines value.
Concerning shears, bonsai or pots by a master craft person:
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives, the cumulative experience of many masters of craftsmanship. Quality also marks the search for an ideal after necessity has been satisfied and mere usefulness achieved." ~ John Ruskin
Finally, there are some people who will pay very large amounts of money just because they have a special attraction, affinity or appreciation for certain objects or traditions. Back in the day, I collected antique woodworking tools. I did it, not to use them, rather because of my admiration of the craft-persons who originally used them. There are many who might call that hobby foolish or a waste of money, just as many might choose to not spend $35,000 on shears despite the tradition and craftsmanship that brought them into existence.
The pots I saw at the last Kokofu were beautiful, but I have no interest in a $250,000 pot. I just can't appreciate it the way it deserves. Yet, I'm very glad someone does and is willing to hold that pot in trust for all of us.
Concerning shears, bonsai or pots by a master craft person:
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives, the cumulative experience of many masters of craftsmanship. Quality also marks the search for an ideal after necessity has been satisfied and mere usefulness achieved." ~ John Ruskin
Finally, there are some people who will pay very large amounts of money just because they have a special attraction, affinity or appreciation for certain objects or traditions. Back in the day, I collected antique woodworking tools. I did it, not to use them, rather because of my admiration of the craft-persons who originally used them. There are many who might call that hobby foolish or a waste of money, just as many might choose to not spend $35,000 on shears despite the tradition and craftsmanship that brought them into existence.
The pots I saw at the last Kokofu were beautiful, but I have no interest in a $250,000 pot. I just can't appreciate it the way it deserves. Yet, I'm very glad someone does and is willing to hold that pot in trust for all of us.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
You say you paid 750 USD just for a TRUNK ? But most of it is dead, and the pot does not even have a nice glaze!?
You can get a juniper for 20 bucks at the hardware store!
(Trying to put things into perpective here)
You can get a juniper for 20 bucks at the hardware store!
(Trying to put things into perpective here)
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
That may be, however, there's more going on here than simple "I can pay $35 K for scissors" brag...
Culturally, this work is significant. The maker is fifth generation in a blacksmithing family--working in the same media as Katana/wakizashi swordsmiths. The two areas are closely related and have a very deep history, which both carry great significance in Japan--and Japan is this guy's market-because Westerners typically don't "get it."
The guy's "regular" scissors are $1,100--which is on a par with what a decent Katana blade can go for. The guy smiles when mentioning the $35,000 work, which probably means he's sold none or very few of those. FWIW, Japanese meiji period bronze sculpture, which was made by former bladesmiths who were outlawed from making blades in the late 1800's, turned to other crafts and arts in metal work. they were VERY good at it
The video doesn't say if he has been designated as a "living national treasure," but there are more than a few metal workers-including katana makers--who are. That long tradition and attention to detail is valued tremendously in Japanese culture. THAT is the value here, not some simple-minded brag...
shinmai
Chumono
To rockm's excellent point.... Japanese culture puts a very high value on the quest for perfection [witness the gentleman saying that after fifty years of work he felt he was starting to reach his peak]. One could also point to something as elemental as the tea ceremony as an example--dozens of movements, each requiring scrupulous attention to be executed perfectly.
They also find meaning in the artful execution of even the most humble household objects--like a pair of scissors--when that object represents the consummation of an artisan's lifelong development of their skill. Western culture, for the most part, tends to value quantity of possessions and visible status symbols.
They also find meaning in the artful execution of even the most humble household objects--like a pair of scissors--when that object represents the consummation of an artisan's lifelong development of their skill. Western culture, for the most part, tends to value quantity of possessions and visible status symbols.
Coppersdad
Mame
Are you thinking of the concept of "shibumi" or "shibusa" as the quest for the most subtle of perfection?
I'm sure glad the quest for perfection is most important or I would have been discouraged from ever allowing another person to see any of my trees. Now I tell people they must look carefully to see the subtle part.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
It's kind of like defining the elusive American Bonsai, That way you don't really have to accomplish anything anyone else can understand?Are you thinking of the concept of "shibumi" or "shibusa" as the quest for the most subtle of perfection?
I'm sure glad the quest for perfection is most important or I would have been discouraged from ever allowing another person to see any of my trees. Now I tell people they must look carefully to see the subtle part.
shinmai
Chumono
I thought “shibumi” was a song by The Crew Cuts.
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
I think Sh-boom refers to dreaming about what could be, in spite of the facts...
When we buy a candidate we say Sh-boom! After we work on it we say, "Ya da da da da da da da...
shinmai
Chumono
Excellent!! I feared that reference was going the way of a fart in a space suit. Thank you for restoring my faith.
Aaronkslater
Yamadori
I'm calling bs on the fact that it takes him a week of 10 hour days to make a pair of shears that he sells for $1000 usd. Thats starvation money in Japan.
on the other hand, if it weren't for people paying ridiculous amounts of money for finely crafted objects I couldn't feed my kids, so I will be keeping my mouth shut on that subject. lol.
www.aaronslaterglass.com
on the other hand, if it weren't for people paying ridiculous amounts of money for finely crafted objects I couldn't feed my kids, so I will be keeping my mouth shut on that subject. lol.
www.aaronslaterglass.com
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
Introspection begins in one's own wallet.
shinmai
Chumono
You do nice work. Diver?
The mere fact that you can spell ‘nudibranch’ makes you my kind of people.
Coppersdad
Mame
Shibumi is also the title of a most excellent book by Trevanian.
shinmai
Chumono
If I'm not mistaken, did he not also write "The Eiger Sanction"?
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Shibui...
shinmai
Chumono
One is always learning. According to Wikipedia [and they can't put it on the internet if it isn't true], 'shibui' is the adjective form, and 'shibumi' is the noun. There is also 'shibuma', a noun, but the distinction between that and 'shibumi' is over my pay grade at this hour, filtering this as I am through a liberal helping of 'Nine Banded' whiskey from Austin TX.
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