Dietmar Kressler Natural Tortoise Shell Folder

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I'm not usually a big fan of scrim, however I like it here as I have on a handful of other knives.
I really like antique tortoise shell handle inlays in general.
 
I You need the right light to see everything. The same goes for this knife. Coop did a great job photographing the knife, but the scrim just doesn't show up as well as if you were to see it in person.
I understand.

I sent Bob my first proof of the image and it showed the scrimshaw VERY proudly. (It's all about the lighting)

Bob thought it was too prominent, and that the allure of this piece is how you have to do a little searching to view it, and so he asked me to 'calm it down a bit.

And we both agreed that this version, although not as prominent, was closer to 'reality'.

Bob, one thing I would disagree with: That 99% of the knives with antique tortoise are fake celluloid.

I have shot MANY knives of this nature, and I've seen the fake stuff. You can tell the difference. I've YET to see a fake celluloid tortoise shell billed as real. There is more of this out there than you would think.

Coop
 
Bob thought it was too prominent, and that the allure of this piece is how you have to do a little searching to view it

Coop

I agree, and would take the point even farther in that to me (even though both nice), the subtlety of the scrim on the maker's mark side is more appealing than the more prominent and abundant scrim of the 'B' side.
 
I think that is outstanding. I've seen LOTS of tortoise also. Actually a while back, I was at a local show and a fellow was looking to sell some pieces that would make great scales that were taken from an old "dresser box" if I recall.

Also, that knife was pictured somewhere, that I don't recall at this time, and the scrim was shown exceptionally well. I think Lori did an outstanding job. I am a bit prejudiced as I love big cats.

Peter
 
Thanks for the education on the tortoise issue. I always tended to pass it by, reading how much of it was not real. But I was obviously mistaken. Peter, I am also prejudiced toward big cats - otherwise there is no way I would have felt as I do toward this rendering.

Thanks for the comments. Lori sure did a great job on that scrim.
 
The knife is pictured in the book "The Great Collections" by David Darom. I've always liked it.
 
The knife is pictured in the book "The Great Collections" by David Darom. I've always liked it.

Martin-

My God, I had no idea, on page 47. Martin, thank you for pointing it out. I can't believe I missed that!

Thanks much,

Bob
 
Thanks again everyone! All your comments are welcome.

Coop,
I understand about the scrim maybe being "too prominent" in the first proof. One of the things my husband really liked about the scrim was that it wasn't perfectly visable at a glance. Besides that, I would imagine that if the scrim showed up really well in the photo, maybe the colors in the tortoise shell would have been a little lost?

Lori
www.LoriRistinen.com
 
Thanks again everyone! All your comments are welcome.

Coop,
I understand about the scrim maybe being "too prominent" in the first proof. One of the things my husband really liked about the scrim was that it wasn't perfectly visable at a glance. Besides that, I would imagine that if the scrim showed up really well in the photo, maybe the colors in the tortoise shell would have been a little lost?

Lori
www.LoriRistinen.com

Lori,

You are exactly right. Your husband and I were on the same page, I guess. The scrim in the original image work lessened the textural color of the tortoise. EDIT: In comparing the image in the book to "my eye/Coop's image", the leopard side has a bit different color than "in person".

Bob
 
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Lori,

You are exactly right. Your husband and I were on the same page, I guess. The scrim in the original image work lessened the textural color of the tortoise. EDIT: In comparing the image in the book to "my eye/Coop's image", the leopard side has a bit different color than "in person".

Bob

It is all a question of the exact lighting angle, Bob, same as
with Black-lip Pearl, for example.

In the pictures Eric shot for my book, the relative angle of the
lighting enhanced Lori's amazing scrimshaw, catching it at its best.
See page 47 in my "Great collections" book of 2007.

If you move the folder in your hand relative to a strong light source
you will get to see the scrimshaw stand out proud at a certain angle.
You will also notice how colors and their depth relative to the tortoise
shell change constantly - coming alive in your hand as the object is
moved relative to the illumination.

I always feel that the whole idea in displaying a work of art is to
show it its best. Anything else is a lame excuse.....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
^I would add;

"I always feel that the whole idea in displaying a work of art is to
show it its best," while portraying it as it is actually seen.
 
^I would add;

"I always feel that the whole idea in displaying a work of art is to
show it at its best," while portraying it as it is actually seen.

Kevin, we can go on forever.... But I can live with the following:

I always feel that the whole idea in displaying a work of art is to
show it at its best, while portraying it as it is actually seen under optimal lighting conditions... :)

All the best,
David darom (ddd)
 
Hey guys: No lame excuses here. I just edit until the client is happy. :)

Coop
 
Kevin, we can go on forever.... But I can live with the following:

I always feel that the whole idea in displaying a work of art is to
show it at its best, while portraying it as it is actually seen under optimal lighting conditions... :)

All the best,
David darom (ddd)

Fair enough ;) :)
 
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