The role of the collector

It's a bit of a silly question (in my opinion). It's a bit like trying to discuss what the cost of gas should be. In a society with open markets, every noob with the bucks can be a collector for whatever reason they choose. They are patrons who support individual makers they believe show talent (e.g. the Medici family with painters), unscrupulous pimps who do whatever it takes to squeeze a few bucks out of each transaction, and individuals who like a knife and have the $.

I sympathize with artists like Tai. Here's a man who works hard to turn the things he sees in his minds eye into the physical reality of a knife, something akin to magic. A man with a gift few are afforded, and every fewer realize. And he has to submit to the criticism (and worse- false praise) of any moron with a computer and/or a few bucks.

Makers make. Collectors just shell out some dollars in a way that they hope will benefit them financially (and also to enjoy the (mostly) fleeting joy that comes with possessing something beautiful). Makers and collectors each play a part, but the latter is far more easily replaceable. In most cases, I think makers are better served listening to the bone, antler and steel instead of to the collectors.
 
Patapsco Mike said:
A man with a gift few are afforded, and every fewer realize. And he has to submit to the criticism (and worse- false praise) of any moron with a computer and/or a few bucks.

Makers make. Collectors just shell out some dollars in a way that they hope will benefit them financially (and also to enjoy the (mostly) fleeting joy that comes with possessing something beautiful). Makers and collectors each play a part, but the latter is far more easily replaceable. In most cases, I think makers are better served listening to the bone, antler and steel instead of to the collectors.
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Interesting.

If you think all it takes is a "moron with a computer and/or a few bucks" to be a collector, and that "we" are easy to replace....there is nothing that I could ever say or do to convince you otherwise.

When makers "listen to the bone, antler, and steel" and don't have a pulse on what is commercially viable(means they can sell it relatively quickly, not that it has to be "popular"), and are full time....they starve.

Thank you for your contribution.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
If a collector promotes his own collection, then he promotes himself as well as the makers in it.

Knifemakers need to promote themselves. Most of the successful ones do. :)
 
Patapsco Mike said:
Makers make. Collectors just shell out some dollars in a way that they hope will benefit them financially (and also to enjoy the (mostly) fleeting joy that comes with possessing something beautiful). Makers and collectors each play a part, but the latter is far more easily replaceable. In most cases, I think makers are better served listening to the bone, antler and steel instead of to the collectors.
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I am not sure what percentage of collectors collect in ways that maximize the chances of their collection benefiting them financially (or at least not losing money---versus the percentage of collectors that collect haphazardly, just buying knives that they like. Whichever the case, a plethora of collectors is needed to support the plethora of makers. I cannot imagine that there has ever been such a good time for collectors: there are so many good makers out there, with more coming every day. As has been pointed out several times on these forums, large numbers of new collectors are needed to feed the makers' families. If the makers do not play to the market to some degree, (unless they are independently wealthy), they will be making far fewer knives as they have to be finding other work to pay the bills. "Listening to the bone, antler, and steel" works fine up to a point, but macaroni and cheese does get old after a while.

I am not saying that makers have to be slaves to collectors whims. But if I want a knife with a certain characteristic and the maker prefers to do some other interpretation, he had better be able to offer an explanation that makes sense to me or I will simply find another maker--who is willing and able to make the knife that I really want.
 
Tai Goo said:
Knifemakers need to promote themselves. Most of the successful ones do. :)
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Yes, that is true.There are very few other methods for a maker's work to be promoted, and when discussing attracting new collectors, makers need to use every possible method.

Personally, I feel that posting the occasional pic of a new knife on these forums does a great deal of good. For collectors as well as makers.
 
I have had to fire a couple of collectors over the years, hard to do but some can be a pain.

For the most part, I like listening to, visiting, and working with collectors. All of my friends are either collectors or makers.

Beans are pretty good eating but I like steak once and a while :D

I listen first to the collector, then to the steel and ivory.
 
shaldag said:
Yes, that is true.There are very few other methods for a maker's work to be promoted, and when discussing attracting new collectors, makers need to use every possible method.

Personally, I feel that posting the occasional pic of a new knife on these forums does a great deal of good. For collectors as well as makers.
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Oh, I'll second that last comment!

It was lurking and staring at pictures here...that finally taught me what I loved. And then I began, slowly, to collect.
 
shaldag said:
Personally, I feel that posting the occasional pic of a new knife on these forums does a great deal of good. For collectors as well as makers.
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:D

Don Hanson III said:
I listen first to the collector, then to the steel and ivory.
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:D :D

Tai Goo said:
If a collector promotes his own collection, then he promotes himself as well as the makers in it.
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:D :D :D

Coop
 
I’ve always been the most impressed with collectors who can recognize and appreciate the value of a custom knife simply for what it is,… and value it "above the dollar price", the ones who keep full documentation and get their knives out quarterly for cleaning, inspection and adoration. :)

...Royalty payments on resale wouldn't be bad either. :D
 
HTMD said:
The ideal collector does two things:
#1
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#2
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"I think therefore I am!" Rene Descartes:
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Outline_of_Great_Books_Volume_I/ithinkth_bga.html

"I don't think,... therefore I am." Yogi Gu
 
Don Hanson III said:
I have had to fire a couple of collectors over the years, hard to do but some can be a pain.

For the most part, I like listening to, visiting, and working with collectors. All of my friends are either collectors or makers.

Beans are pretty good eating but I like steak once and a while :D

I listen first to the collector, then to the steel and ivory.
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Ther's few in every crowd! :D
 
There is a rule against posting on BladeForums whilst under the influence of peyote or pinon resin fumes.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Somehow it has never occurred to me that I should seek out a collector to teach my son something of value. I know that the time my son spent with Tai was special - at least it would seem so since the knife they made together still sits front and center on the desk in my son's room.
 
HTMD said:
Somehow it has never occurred to me that I should seek out a collector to teach my son something of value.
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You know, Buddy, that is funny.;)

Check this................

What the best of the best collectors possess is an "eye" for the object they desire.

This "eye" can be explained, and with a good solid collection as visual tool, it can be shown to a beginning/novice collector(and/or child).....

Not that the time with Tai was ill spent(I cherish every minute of times spent in a makers' shop, bet your son did too), but what a wonderful companion to go from that shop time, to a room full of finished knives, explaining and pointing out subtle differences.

Like the small differences between the different "Loveless style" makers and the man himself. That could be hours right there, or comparing and contrasting Moran from Hendrickson, or Fogg and Fikes.... or the differences between 1970's and current makers.....the list goes on.

Yeah, all it takes is money and a computer.....and a lifetime of schooling, which never ends.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, does it make a sound?

If a knifemaker makes a knife and no one wants it, is it a viable knife...is it art or is it crap?

The collector provides legitimacy to a knifemaker's craft or art, whether the knife is a "user" or an "art piece." It's human nature to seek support from society for the things we do that are important to us. The collector supplies this to the maker, for many knifemakers (especially part-timers) the shear fact someone wants their work gives them more satisfaction than the dollars made from the sale.

Then there is the mercenary aspect of the collector/knifemaker symbiotic relationship. If anyone wants to live off their art, or get rich, in 90% of the cases they need collectors and they must compromise their artistic vision to attract the dollars. This path begins with multiple versions of the same piece, runs through mid-tech and ends as a "knife designer" for the production companies :) This is "success" but after the 1000th loveless drop point, is it still art, or just commerce?
 
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