John Donivan's response to this thread mentioned my name as someone who manufactured without a budget in mind, well perhaps my budgets may be larger than some
I’m a little surprised to hear James say that - not just usually a
budget but always. Let’s say that I HAVE worked like that - do your
best, make it extraordinary and just send us a bill… There was an
implied budget, still - not a million dollars… That’s not the
point, anyway. A big budget, as in most of the great pieces we all
see from the nouveau and deco periods, gives great freedom in the
choice of materials and the amount of time that can be spent. Trying
to make a nouveau piece at a $500 price point means it can only be
certain things. Doesn’t matter - it’s just the reality that some of
Faberge’s eggs would cost 1/2 million in labor and materials at
today’s prices…
I made a mistake about the Artistic luxury show that I should
correct - the sculptural cup I mentioned was by Faberge, not
Lalique… Also on display, which I’ve never seen in person
before, is Faberge’s Gypsy Woman hardstone carving. My favorite
Faberge piece of all…Yes, more than the eggs… Check it out, if
you can.