I was talking with someone about luxury, history, making…and the hand — and it came forth, again. Marty Wikstrom, I think it was her. I suppose, really, I’ve talked to a lot of people about this. Robert Polet. François Pinault. James McArthur. Claudia Cividino. Dawn Mello. David Yurman. Marvin Traub. Ian Ginsberg. Lorenz Bäumer. But the idea is the exclusivity of the making. That luxury is, and should be, about the rarest of the rare — that coupled with the telling of the story that links, inherently, to history. History is not tantamount to that equation, necessarily — history can be part of it, but luxury can be newly thought, newly gestured and made — like Lorenz Bäumer; superlative, but new and young. Supreme care to the making, but freshly realized. I believe that you could say that there is the fattest channel furrowing of luxury as a commodity object — and that’s one level of luxury; it’s masslux. But then, at the very heart of it, there’s another level, that can never be truly mass(ive); it’s quieter, more slid across the table, more gorgeously boxed, more whispered — more intimate, in story. That is, as well — a distinct link to this story. Why? Because the piano, well made, is perhaps the most luxurious and complexly sensual instrument of them all — and all of the details as to how it’s put together, speak to the luxurious in appointment; the layered character of the woods, the sealing lacquers, the moulded and sculpted forms of the tappers, the long and tensely wound strings — the graceful superstructure of the stringed armature, the seals, the joins, the hinges…It’s one big and gorgeous paen to all that luxury talks about. Intelligence, sophistication, complexity of sensate experience, emotional expression — and finally, it’s about vibe. It’s about that luxury vibration — an elevation to a level of experiential reflection that is empowering, ennobling, evolving. Knowing well, the piano, is a powerful and emotive level of experience intelligence that is profound. And luxury is inherently about that — experience intelligence. It’s knowing materials, finishes, patterning, luster, illumination, detailing, joints and seams — and, in the complexity of the thoroughly sensual world — the sounds, the scents, the tastes, the touches, the depth of seeing in, that creates connoisseurship — that, being one…who knows. ([Origin: 1705–15;
MOVIES | November 7, 2007
Movie Review | ‘Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037’: What’s Black and White and Made in Queens?
By STEPHEN HOLDEN
“Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037” follows the painstaking yearlong process of building and fine-tuning a handmade nine-foot concert grand piano.
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On Nov 7, 2007, at 9:25 AM, hawklab@gmail.com wrote:
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> nice film review on luxury as it pertains to the “real” or “old” luxury: handcrafted, no holds barred, the very best at every level — with craftsman’s pride and humility. playing in nyc.