Worth the effort

In a reply to a recent post, a question was raised: “Why don’t you write an article about why the art of making fine furniture has gone down the toilet.”

My first thought was don’t get me started. But then, the commentator answered his own question by stating, “This nation has turned into a disposable society and all they want is cheap prices and throw away furniture.”

Actually, it’s not the art of furniture making that has gone down the toilet. The art is very much alive. All you have to do is search the Internet. You can find a multitude of fine work by makers of every age that exemplifies the highest level of workmanship. Most of these makers are unknown. When the subject of furniture comes up, most people think of Ikea or Cost Plus or Pottery Barn. As my questioner stated, cheap throw away stuff.

One could write a book on why we are seeing this phenomenon. It’s not limited to furniture. It’s the same with clothing, cars, food, houses and just about everything else we consume in our modern society. But the good stuff is still out there. You have to seek it out. Top quality clothing made from natural fibers. Fresh, organic produce and meats. And yes, finely crafted furniture built to last a lifetime.

Cheap? Not! Worth the effort to find and the premium price? Well, that’s up to the individual to decide. Right now, most people seem to be deciding to go to Ikea.

D.D.