The price of value
As a goldsmith, I am sometimes asked to put a price on a piece of jewellery people carry to my studio for evaluation.
They want to be sure it’s gold or silver. They want to be sure the stones are real. They want to be sure the piece is as exceptionnal as they have kept hearing in the family for generations « this ring was given to my great-grand mother when she got engaged to that rich man ».
Or « I have always been told these pearls are natural » or « the stone in the middle used to be much more beautiful, but my parents have a doubt it might have been replaced when the ring got once fixed ».
The moment people care about my « expertise » are usually very different from those when they care about making the good choice, spending time with me on sketches, looking for the best way to create the ideal piece for their beloved one(s).
But that superb unique piece they have bought from me for Christmas might well end up in some years from now on one of my colleagues’ bench, under his loupe and the cold judgement of another « expert ».
Of course objective elements can always be measured and priced, according to changes everyone is aware of.
Two things remain floating : the potential artistic value of the examined piece for sale, and the appreciation of what we can call the « life » of the piece.
Thinking more precisely about what that « life » consists in, and admitting that simply all worn pieces have a « life » worth considering, because of what they tell of the wearer(s), I have to ask the question : in the end, wouldn’t the only value be the sentimental one ?
Here is something that drew my attention some years ago in Berlin « Mitte ».
Check out also Christophe's earlier writing here. |