Knives as art-under priced!!!

x-10

x-10

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Dec 12, 2008
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If you are like me, you have some knives that cost over $1 or 2 hundred and you rarely use them. They are beautiful to look at and wonderful to hold.Are not these knives art? (art can be variously defined as art that reaches across multiple quadrants and levels, that transcends and includes all limited forms, interpretations, or perspectives, as the belief that every human being is creative and that art is integral to all human endeavors, or simply as art that was created by someone who thinks or acts in an integral way.*) When I look at one of a kind or custom knives I see ART. Under priced art. Compare the beauty of a well made knife with the beauty that we see in most art Museums that show sculpture that sometimes looks like a crazy fool on LSD put it together,the price could be over a $100 thousand dollars. If junk can sell for $10s of thousands of dollars then why is a beautiful Mcusta Damascus Cocobolo knife only $129??? Do you have a knife that is more beautiful then most of the over priced stuff that others call art?

* From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
I'd consider any knife I find attractive to be art. As for your other question, it's because of the value system that divides art into "fine art" and "commercial art" and attaches often absurdly high values to the one, while treating the other pretty much as a red headed stepchild. Rarely does commercial art become valuable, and even then far less so than fine art of the same period. Compare prices for an original MC Escher drawing and those for an original napkin doodle by Picasso.

Lucky break for us though, if knives were treated as fine art, few could afford one, much less "tuples".
 
x-10 said:
If you are like me, you have some knives that cost over $1 or 2 hundred and you rarely use them.
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Nope I don't have any safe queen all my knives are users and it seems to me the more I paid for it the more I use it and I don't just use them on light cutting jobs either.

Also I do find some knives to be a form of art and if you look into customs you will see some really nice pieces. Look at the unique sebenzas and the graphic sebenzas, art on a knife.
 
I do think think that several hi-end custom knives are an expression of superior craftsmanship, but I have seen only few that could possibly be considered as art, in my opinion. I do not think that a damascus-overdose William Henry product is art for example. But it's incredibly well done, that's already something.
I think that art critics would consider something like this closer to what they expect as art (and even then it's debatable):

mes6-Full.jpg
 
I agree with the basic theory of the OP. All of my knives were purchased for their aesthetic value, to different degrees of course, and 99% of my knives are kept in unused condition to preserve that aesthetic value (not the same as Collectors Value, but the two are often in synch).

Even the 1% of my knives that are designated Users are pleasing to look at, each in their own way. Life is too short for ugly tools...

Here's my idea of an Art Knife: Functional. Not gaudy or over-decorated. Sleek clean design. Quality materials. Good workmanship. Affordable. An ideal blend of natural elements and manmade components.

JimRehrer.jpg
 
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I think nearly anything man created can be considered art. Maybe not to everybody, but some will always see the beauty, have their thoughts simulated- therefore the art in anything.
I myself see a firearm, knife, car or motorcycle as useful art. It was created for a purpose, with thought behind it. Visualality, ranks high on everything man does.
Many people see buildings as art, bridges and many other things that serve a purpose and have thoughtful design springing from the human mind behind their reason for being here.
Art to me is skill used to produce an aesthetic result. If the end product can be used for a purpose, so much the more satisfying.
 
Thanks for your input Dagon "I think that art critics would consider something like this closer to what they expect as art (and even then it's debatable)" I am looking at the three objects of art that you are showing and can't help but wonder if a handle was made that looked like them for a knife would that knife not be "art"?
 
x-10 said:
you have some knives that cost over $1 or 2 hundred and you rarely use them.
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x-10 said:
,the price could be over a $100 thousand dollars. If junk can sell for $10s of thousands of dollars
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You do not know how to write numbers, and either use the dollar sign ($) OR write the word "dollars", not both.

To contribute, yes, I think that many knives could be considered art.
 
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> I am looking at the three objects of art that you are showing and can't help but wonder if a handle was made that looked like them for a knife would that knife not be "art"?

these are meant as a set by the way. A kind of chessboard and a few edged sculptures on it. Absolutely useless, but then isn't real art most often useless? In contrast usable knives are an expression of applied arts, of design as they have to be useful. But true art, again in my opinion, stirs the emotions in a different way than simply "whoa look at this damascus pattern". Two years ago I saw Picasso's Guernica (in Madrid), and I don't think I will ever encounter a knife that will make the same impression on me!

ps on your feedback: actually a few scandinavian knives such as my Roselli Grandfather come close to the handle shape. But I don't think of it as art as it's very useful. :-)
 
"Here's my idea of an Art Knife: Functional. Not gaudy or over-decorated. Sleek clean design. Quality materials. Good workmanship. Affordable. An ideal blend of natural elements and manmade components."-Bob W
x-10 The knife shown in your picture could touch on a deep level any art critic who does not agree knives are art. A good 4" deep
 
Knives to me, and Knife Makers are Half Artists and Half Weapon Makers. Like old school sword smiths. They are definatly Art.
The Emerson-Nealy Timberline Specwar from the 90s was on display at the Smithsonian. Or one of the great Places. Or maybe it was NYC, Anyway it was on display. Just "Wiki" it.
 
Not that I think it's "beautiful", but I always felt that the original Camillus EDC framelock folding knife
(designed by Darryl Ralph) would fit very nicely in the display of a modern art museum.
 
I believe that an Opinel and SAK are on display in the London design museum. Good design has a wonderful elegance of its own but I wouldn't call it art just yet.
 
Joshua J. " (I especially like this one)
http://www.kenonionknives.com/images/25091.jpg "
x-10 yes, the above makes an impression on me! It is no accident that when some people see my collection that their eyes grow wide and they take a step back. Most of us know that collecting knives is not the same as collecting stamps. The sight of a knife touches many people on a visceral level. A knife that is also beautiful touches us on many levels. Art does not have to be “useless”. As it is stated in Wikipedia “ defined as art that reaches across multiple quadrants and levels, that transcends and includes all limited forms, interpretations, or perspectives “ A beautiful but deadly knife fits the definition of art.
 
don't know...is this a knife or is it art....or could it be both?
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As long as the blade's functional, I'd say both. Too gaudy for my taste in 'art', but undoubtedly it would appeal to many knife buyers/collectors.
 
Knives like this Don Hanson III fighter are what I consider to be the pinacle of the knifemaker's art.

Hansonsmallfighter1.jpg


To me, they are under priced. To others, they are overpriced.
 
Art is a word that can mean anything to anybody. I've seen the government waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single, ugly piece of stone. Fine armor has always walked a fine line between craftsmanship and materials. A gold dagger would not make for the finest blade from a utilitarian standpoint, but it would be beautiful.

Nothing put together by mass production should be classed "art." It's not enough that a Damascus blade have swirls and flourishes; it should also be able to perform because the maker thought enough of it to make it from the finest materials. Some of the finest Japanese pieces I've seen also are the best performers because sword making was a source of pride.
 
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