[TheForge] Craft work (was Disgusting Ironwork)

[Michael H. Murphy]

I'm going to stick my two cents' worth in here with a prior warning: unlike
Dennis Miller, I AM going off on a rant.  I have no argument with the price
on the "disgusting ironwork"; it's fair considering the quality.  Actually,
as ironwork, it's not all that bad; I've seen worse stuff priced higher.
The advertising is pure hyperbole, but what advertising isn't?  I've seen
guys at craft fairs with obviously (to a semi-trained eye) machine-bent and
machine-welded bird feeder hangers with cast finials, advertised as
"hand-forged wrought iron."

The problem here is that the public's entire concept of craft work has been
debased.  I've noticed that any ferrous metal that's been bent is called
wrought iron.  If the person's hands actually touched it, it's hand-forged.
It's not just smiths that are getting this, either; it's nearly all the
craftspeople.  While it may be true that "I can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart,"
it's also true that a KIA is cheaper than a Mercedes.  Which is the better
automobile?  We are in dire need of education, not only in the hard
sciences, but also in appreciation of the arts: music, literature, and yes,
craft works such as blacksmithing and wood carving.

That being said, I'm probably just pissing in the wind; as long as there are
people who prefer Boone's Farm to burgundy and think that a picture of Elvis
on black velvet is a high art form, it's a losing proposition.

Murf

> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of xlch58 at swbell.net
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 11:09 PM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Disgusting Ironwork
> 
> Closer to the truth than just about everyplace selling cast aluminum
> furniture as wrought iron.    And it is probably hand bent.    Regarding
> his veracity, I know I don't advertise my items as " Genuine A36 Mild
> steel twisted and abused by slightly inebriated rank amateur"
> 
> Charles
> 
> Mike Linn wrote:
> 
> > Can you believe this??   Do truth in advertising laws hold true for
> > Ebay "ads"
> >
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