Janet Kaiser on sun 3 oct 04
Gayle has made a perfectly valid point, but my take would be
slightly different when it comes to the example she gives...
The platter was OVAL and that makes it much less common. It can
instantly appeal to many more people, because it will work as a
one-off piece far better than any round plate. Even a large to
largish 15 inch, no matter what the design, if it is a solitary
example, it could/may always be regarded as an "odd plate". An
oval plate, on the other hand, is more likely to have been made
as an "extra" in the first place and bought as a single piece.
Just notice how the manufacturers of "sets" will give a special
offer on a six place setting... The provide the minimum in bare
essentials such as plate, side plate, all-purpose cereal, soup,
pasta & pudding bowl. Then all the other bits and pieces, such as
teapots, serving dishes, cups and saucers, jugs, etc. are extra.
When you look at the individual prices, it becomes apparent that
the basic set was the bait dangled to get the purchaser committed
to that line... Yes, pure bait!
The studio potter is then faced with a problem created by this
marketing strategy... Most people have been lead to expect to pay
relatively much less for anything which could be thought of as
the "basic" setting or set.
The single platter "works" and all for $60!! But a buyer would
need 6x 9-inch plates, 6x 11-inch and 6x bowl at say $25 to meet
the "basic minimum". That is not only a $442 purchase (if my
maths to be relied on), but a commitment to both maker and
design.
Even if Gayle had not intended the plates to be regarded as
domestic ware, the fact that they appeared together would make
them appear as a "set". The only successful marketing of single
plates I can think of, are the ubiquitous "collectors" series,
such as the Rosenthal "Christmas" plates... A new design each
year... Or those you see advertised in newspapers and
magazines... All meant to be decorative rather than functional.
Usually with "hand painted gold leaf" -- the bit that always
makes me laugh!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
>Our local gallery had their annual Almost Perfect
>sale. I submitted plates and a platter. The plates were much
>less flawed than the platter. The platter was oval about 15",
>too heavy had warped slightly with the same design as the
plates.
>I charged $60 for the platter $24 for 9" plates, $28 for the 11"
plates.
>The platter sold while the plates did not.
>
>So my lessons learned:
>1. Bigger is better!
>2. Forget the plates unless someone orders a set.
>2. Make platters and charge more.
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The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
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mailtoandrew@FSMAIL.NET on mon 4 oct 04
Hello Janet,
Usually with "hand painted gold leaf" -- the bit that always
makes me laugh!
Am I missing the joke? Why is that bit funny?
Regards,
Andrew
Janet Kaiser on tue 5 oct 04
On otherwise mass-produced transfer ware, I find any claim to
"hand made" as an excuse for inflated prices and "limited
edition" status fairly amusing. Do you not?
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
>Usually with "hand painted gold leaf" -- the bit that always
>makes me laugh! Am I missing the joke? Why is that bit funny?
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The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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mailtoandrew@FSMAIL.NET on wed 6 oct 04
Taste and aesthetic consideration are entirely personal, and those
Collectors plates of the type often advertised in glossy magazines are not
to mine. However whilst the methods of decoration used will, by commercial
necessity, be rapid transfers, or more accurately lithographs, are not
ubiquitous. A range of techniques could be used and may include manual
work by skilled operatives, including hand applied gold decoration.
Regards,
Andrew
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