A few years ago Saybra and I went to a Warren Mackenzie workshop at Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana, I was thinking about doing a residency somewhere and was checking out my options so we went during the Mac workshop. The sales at his opening were conducted by lottery, which is fair. There was one piece above all that I wanted which was snagged by the person right before me, oh sweet misery. I've since lusted after this bowl, it's shown here in the archives at the red lodge website. I know this because I regularly go back and look at it. I don't know what it is, I can't quatify it but I love this bowl.
So what's the point of this? It's for sale on ebay, I knew it the moment I saw it. The lighting is off but I spent several minutes today lining up the blemishes and iron spots, it's the exact pot. Great, right? How many times do you get the opportunity to own a pot that you've spent years lusting over? Well, it's $150. I think at the opening it was around $60, at his showroom it would've sold for $15 tops. I think if I didn't know Warren and hadn't ever bought pots directly from him I wouldn't think this so bad of a price. So the question is: is it worth it? Is that small bowl worth $150? Something to think about.
Also christmas is coming up for anyone out there that may want to buy me something, just sayin ;)
Cheers!
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7 comments:
wow isn't that why warren stopped selling in bulk from his place?? cheeky, but if you want it that much...my pots arrived safely cheers :))
I took a workshop with Warren a couple of years ago and he talked about how he hated that his pieces ended up on Ebay. It's what made him start signing his pieces -- cause he said knock-offs showed up all the time too.
I think if you contacted him - he'd make you that bowl -- don't know if you'd save any money -- I've been seeing his work at pretty high prices lately.
It is a sweet bowl!
Russell Wrankle has a good post titled "price vs value"
Some very good thoughts in there.
sorry...here's the link:
http://toquervilleclay.blogspot.com/2010/06/let-me-know-when-you-pay-2500-for.html
hmmmm... To hold a simple bowl that speaks that loudly is worth a day pay. But sometimes it's better to let it whisper in our imagination...
Considering how much a chawan made by a Japanese potter of his caliber and reputation in Japan would go for in a gallery, that is before it got priced up at an auction, I'd say you're looking at a steal. But it looks like it's already closed.
my posed question was not so much "should i buy it" as it was "is it worth this amount of money" given what i know the potter would sell it for. so it is. i didn't buy it, but someone did who felt it was worth it to them. that's good i suppose. so long little bowl.
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