Promoting knives to art collectors

Keith Montgomery

Keith Montgomery

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May 9, 2000
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If makers like Josh Smith and Jerry Fisk are successful in getting the art collecting community to take an interest in knives, what do you think that will mean to the direction that custom knifemaking will take in the future?
 
For what it's worth, I'm an art collector as well as a knife collector. And I, for one, would not like to see anyone change what they are doing just to cater to the particular tastes of art collectors. From an artistic standpoint, I think of knives in the same way I think of other objects that have been historically accepted as worthy of consideration within the context of "Art" (big "A"). Objects that are designed and executed to the highest standards of their trade are the ones that are interesting from an artistic standpoint. Using exotic materials and adding superfluous ornament does little to make objects more artistically interesting.

A maker who was interested in making pieces worthy of inclusion into the collection of an art museum should concentrate on purity of line and form, on composition and balance in materials. Materials should be chosen and used with cultural and conceptual implications in mind. Any ornamentation that is added should serve to accentuate the overall compostion. It should never overwhelm or distract the eye from the lines of the knife. Makers who would like to be considered as "artists" would do well to study other objects that are commonly considered to be works of art. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has the most impressive collection of decorative arts I have ever seen. In particular, their collection of antique silver boggles the mind. Here's a link to their online silver exhibitions:

http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/zoeken/search.jsp?query=silver&lang=en&start=0&focus=formats

Japanese lacquerware is also beautiful and fascinating.
 
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Moonwilson,

I couldn't agree more. I don't think makers should change what they are doing. I think if you change what you are doing just to cater to a certain group you will be exposed as a fraud in the end. I think collectors want makers or artist to be genuine about their work.

What I am trying to do is just expose what we already do to a different group of collectors. It's more about educating them to what's out there. Some will latch on to it and some won't.

QUOTE: A maker who was interested in making pieces worthy of inclusion into the collection of an art museum should concentrate on purity of line and form, on composition and balance in materials. Materials should be chosen and used with cultural and conceptual implications in mind. Any ornamentation that is added should serve to accentuate the overall compostion. It should never overwhelm or distract the eye from the lines of the knife. End QUOTE

Very well said.
 
now then do you think you will see a trend in "art folders" or art fixed blades

seeing how there already is sorta a market in gents folder and high end art deco

one thing i love about the razors i make is that i can play more with color and line then i would seem to be able to in a fixed blade market.
 
I think it will be interesting to see how knife makers who are generally not exposed to the stuff that art collectors collect, are affected by being exposed to the other, more standard art forms.
 
You go to a knife show and see tons of knives on the tables. You go to sites and they don't go away. This needs to change. There needs to be more buyers. There are plenty of makers. Not all makers develop a unique style like Josh, but he is working toward the top. I hope to see more widely distributed magazines getting into this stuff. That is what we need. National publications aside from knife mags. Think about the value of our collections if everyone wants to get their hands on this stuff. Considering our relationships with makers already, we would be in a good position.
 
knife magazines which, on the one hand, promote custom knives while, on the other, discuss the martial merits of knives present a duality which obfuscates the artistic aspect of knives. Since this is the only media which portrays knives to the masses, I think many people are unable to gain a clear insight into this particular realm of the cutlery industry.
If there is not a great enough demand for an art knife, or custom knife specific magazine, perhaps these art collectors will help build it.
I know this topic isn't about magazines and the media, but art often is concerned with such things and I believe that one bleeds into the other.
 
I also agree with this statement from moonwilson

A maker who was interested in making pieces worthy of inclusion into the collection of an art museum should concentrate on purity of line and form, on composition and balance in materials. Materials should be chosen and used with cultural and conceptual implications in mind. Any ornamentation that is added should serve to accentuate the overall compostion. It should never overwhelm or distract the eye from the lines of the knife.
Click to expand...

I think that alot of custom knives can qualify for the term "art". The bottom line is that should also functional as knives. I have seen many knives that were not fancy but due to the makers conception and the clean lines of the knife they are art. I have seen many others with alot of unnecessary adornment which to me at least are not art, just ornamentation.

Anything that exposes custon knives to more of the general population is a good thing. Art knives are just one part of the equation.

Jim Treacy
 
joshsmith said:
Moonwilson,

I couldn't agree more. I don't think makers should change what they are doing. I think if you change what you are doing just to cater to a certain group you will be exposed as a fraud in the end. I think collectors want makers or artist to be genuine about their work.

What I am trying to do is just expose what we already do to a different group of collectors. It's more about educating them to what's out there. Some will latch on to it and some won't.

Very well said.
Click to expand...

That's right Josh.
I believe Jerry Fisk feels the same way. He's not changing what he's making just trying to gain exposure to the broader collecting community.
And not just specifically the art community but high end collectors of guns, stamps, watches, porcelain, books etc.. Jerry will be displaying and selling his knives at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno this January.

The CKCA is and will be working towards this endeavor as well.
We didn't produce the CKCA calendar to make money but to get beautiful custom knives out in the publics eye.
 
Why don't you guys find some of these art institutions or wherever you want to market the knives and send them a free calender. A lot of people will see them hanging in their office.

BB
 
This is not so much about the top makers "making" art knives so much as marketing them to art collectors. The flow and choice of materials of the best makers is as much an artistic exercise as painting, or even it's closest kin, sculpture.

Can you think of something more humble than a clay jar? In the right hands a simple container becomes art and is highly collectable. I don't feel that art collectors shun knives, I feel that they haven't been presented man's oldest tool as an art form.

This would be a grand opportunity for the newly founded Custom Knife Collectors group to put together a marketing plan targeting a diffent market. Man's oldest tool as art.
 
At The Ohio Classic Show this year we had an Art Section.It was very well received. The art section had good sales. And some art buyers did buy knives. Next year the art section will grow in size. check the web site art section from 2008 show. www.ohioknifeshow.com
 
Will Leavitt said:
This is not so much about the top makers "making" art knives so much as marketing them to art collectors. The flow and choice of materials of the best makers is as much an artistic exercise as painting, or even it's closest kin, sculpture.

Can you think of something more humble than a clay jar? In the right hands a simple container becomes art and is highly collectable. I don't feel that art collectors shun knives, I feel that they haven't been presented man's oldest tool as an art form.

This would be a grand opportunity for the newly founded Custom Knife Collectors group to put together a marketing plan targeting a diffent market. Man's oldest tool as art.
Click to expand...

That's one of our primary goals Will. If anyone wants to be part of it, it's as easy as going to our website.
 
Can you think of something more humble than a clay jar? In the right hands a simple container becomes art and is highly collectable. I don't feel that art collectors shun knives, I feel that they haven't been presented man's oldest tool as an art form.
Click to expand...

This sums it up for me. In fact, a lot of good thoughts in this thread. Very encouraging. Lin
 
My thoughts on this are that it opens up another avenue for makers to take if they want to. Opening up new markets is a great way to expand opportunities.

One possible downfall (for collectors, not makers) could be that if knives become popular with art collectors, it might lead to an overall increase in the price of custom knives.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
My thoughts on this are that it opens up another avenue for makers to take if they want to. Opening up new markets is a great way to expand opportunities.

One possible downfall (for collectors, not makers) could be that if knives become popular with art collectors, it might lead to an overall increase in the price of custom knives.
Click to expand...

True Keith, but the other side of the coin is that collections will appreciate in value as well and it will stimulate the secondary market.
 
Kevin Jones said:
That's one of our primary goals Will. If anyone wants to be part of it, it's as easy as going to our website.
Click to expand...

Kevin, I do plan on joining y'all soon. As far as marketing, I'm far from a marketing person and my knives are far from art, heck I barely consider them knives at time :p

My "marketing" experience comes from my last job in the Army... Public Affairs :barf: I can shuck, jive and tap dance with the best of them at a dog an pony show. :cool:

I find it hard to believe art collectors aren't aware of makers such as Loerchner, Rusnak, Fogg, Tuch and Tai Goo, not to leave anyone out but these makers kind of epitomize what I love about flow and materials. If they (art collectors) aren't aware of knives as art who is to blame? The makers and by extension the purveyors and dealers. Obviously it would be hard for a single maker to put on a show at a gallery but perhaps the CKCA could gather a collection of the best representation of "knives as art" and arrange a showing at some galleries across the country. I imagine a few gallery shows in New York, DC, Miami, Atlanta, LA, Dallas and Chicago would go far to educate and expose the art collectors to our passion. I envision a gallery showing, with video of the knifemaking processes going and the knives with selected makers on hand to talk to the patrons.

Ah well... got to spend quality time with my wife.
 
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