The Artisan's Touch: Part 4

Products of the Art Deco Era

It might sound like a withered old man reminiscing, but I'm deeply fond of the products from the "Art Deco" period of the 1920s and 30s. This was a time when industrial development led to widespread mechanization and a dramatic surge in mass production. Moving away from the decorative designs of the Art Nouveau era, the prevailing aesthetic became one of simplified forms, suitable for mass production by machines. However, the machinery of the time wasn't as precise as today's, leading to considerable variation in quality. This is where the "artisan's hand" truly came into play.

In today's world, where production efficiency is paramount, encountering products that bear the mark of an artisan's hand has become increasingly rare. One might argue that with improved machine precision, this is no longer an issue. Yet, I suspect the reason we find comfort in the work of artisans goes beyond the poetic notion of human warmth; it stems from the fundamental fact that the human eye surpasses machines in accuracy.

The Human Eye: More Accurate Than Machines

No matter how precisely a shape is traced by computer and then milled by machine, subtle deviations are inevitable.
These deviations invariably create a sense of unease for the user. The ballpoint pen in my hand in the photo (forgive the self-promotion) is from my own brand, and its curves, for instance, could never be perfectly replicated by machine alone. This is because a curve drawn by a computer is merely a connection between points, and strictly speaking, it isn't inherently smooth. A skilled artisan, however, uses their intuition to polish these imperfect surfaces until they achieve true smoothness. If the goal is to create something that feels good to use, this human touch in finishing is indispensable. Of course, this comes at a cost...

This isn't to say I reject mass-produced goods entirely (my own livelihood depends on them, after all). It's simply that I have a preference for things made with care and effort. Perhaps my brain is just a bit outdated, unable to fully adapt to the times.