Morgan Fahey: ... actually, real question on that last part. COULD they? Are there actually even still sculptors who can do that?

Apropos of nothing: One of the wildest degradations of meaning in the last few decades is "luxury." "Luxury" homes have the same appointments as everyone else's, by and large due to for-profit home-building. There is zero artisan involvement in, like. Anything.

And Minimalism! The complete victory of Minimalism, which means engineered and machine-finished materials EVERYWHERE. Glass, laminate, steel. Again: The same materials used in everyone else's homes. But LESS of it. So they CHARGE YOU MORE. Wild.

Compare Carson Mansion, built in 1886, to a modern estate. Even if you don't dig Victorian architecture, you have to admit there is MUCH more artisan involvement in Carson. Whereas the La Jolla house has plaster, engineered wood, and concrete. Way cheaper. And we're conditioned to accept it.

"Luxury" no longer means "bespoke furnishings and finishings commissioned from artisans," it means "We charged you a lot."

"But Spike, human labor is much more expensive than it used to be." Yeah, no, that modern mansion is $32 million. Anyone who could buy that abomination could hire a sculptor to carve some Art Nouveau crown molding. We've just been programmed to no longer consider artisan finishing as luxury.

... actually, real question on that last part. COULD they? Are there actually even still sculptors who can do that?

Yup they are busy restoring the homes of European aristocrat's that are now owned by corporations

Art Nouveau is very specific, though, and restoring is different than creating. Do you have a link about this? Because my understanding was that it is/was difficult for even the Villa Majorelle to find qualified craftspeople to complete its restoration.

Actually there are! I go to life drawing with one (carves custom marble fireplaces/mantelpieces) and it's wild to hear him talk about his job. Also got to know a Roman-trained chisel-and-hammer stone letterer. It's a feast or famine life but what jobs there are pay well

That's awesome!! But it's not Art Nouveau woodwork? I'm not trying to be difficult, here, I genuinely am not sure there are still people doing this work from scratch?

Sorry, I got overeager and missed that specific detail.

No no, I should have re-specified, it was a little inferential between the posts!

I have a friend that is presently restoring a second empire house, and the answer is yes, but it's very niche. And they tend to be nerds about it that do things like collect period specific woodworking tools.

I'm just asking because there are still are least a FEW rich people who have specific aesthetic obsessions, and I think I've seen... one?? major Art Nouveau restoration/ renovation with what seemed like it might have been some significant new work in DECADES of looking at home decor mags.

There's a specialty magazine specifically for Art Nouveau era homes, which largely features restored houses. The general home decor mags are all about selling the newest & trendiest, but this is where the specialty artisans and antique dealers advertise. artsandcraftshomes.com/magazine

artsandcraftshomes.com

Oh, I love this! Thank you!

I worked with a master blacksmith, one guy, who would install these incredible pieces into people’s homes. Entire staircase railings of metal, shaped into grape vines, with leaves and grape clusters.

I feel like for whatever reason the smiths have kept up better through the trials of modernity than the cabinetmakers and masons?

No idea. I can’t afford that shit lol

There’s a few but harder and harder to find yorkminster.org/discover/cen...

Meet our stonemason Harriet | York Minsteryorkminster.org

If unable to find someone to carve wood it IS possible to recreate it with plaster, either using molds or building it up by hand. Hell, you can even use multiple kinds of ready made trim stacked up to look fancy. Not art nouveau but still really nice.

Valid question cause sculpting definitely seems like one of those increasingly rare crafts

I swear there was a whole thing in Chicago about how 120 years ago any random immigrant mason could sculpt you, like, a gargoyle with a bouquet but restoring historic properties had recently become a major issue!

Seeing that Sagrada Familia resumes its construction, I am thinking yes

Here's the profile of the sculptor: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etsuro_...

Etsuro Sotoo - Wikipediaen.m.wikipedia.org

I was thinking more of things like this, but thus also a yes: artfactory.com/product/art-...

Art Nouveau Door: Design Inspired By French Architect Jules Lavirotte - HRD0990artfactory.com Art Nouveau Door: Design Inspired By French Architect Jules Lavirotte - and the building at 3 Square Rapp in Paris, France, made in the USA

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