What are the finest examples of craftsmanship in history??

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
a reply to: Krakatoa

Man I know Robert Overstreet personally..


He created the “overstreet price guides” one for arrowheads and one for comic books 47 years ago..


The first price guide that wasn’t for stamps in history.


He told me there are factories that mass procure them in Asia and they are basically indistinguishable from their ancient counterparts.


It has really screwed with the markets.

But from that conversation I asked him if her were as good as the anchients at it and he said “they are better”.

To you last line, exactly my point. It was done, by hand, with simple tools. No mass machinery....quality was higher as well.

a reply to: yorkshirelad

I was thinking more along the lines of a single statue, maybe by a single artist.

a reply to: Krakatoa

The factories in Asia are done by hand there isn’t even a machine yet that can do it I don’t think.. I forgot to tention that lol. Appearently, if you do it for 10 hours a day for years you get really, really good at it lol.

a reply to: DictionaryOfExcuses

I wasn’t talking about big works that took legions of Manual labor.


I meant smaller pieces done by what might have been the best craftsmen on the planet at the time.

originally posted by: ketsuko
Some of the examples of Japanese inlay and laquerwork are pretty intricate and detailed.

Saw a few videos about bamboo woodworking recently. Breathtaking!

originally posted by: pavil
a reply to: JoshuaCox

Damascus steel? It hasn't been duplicated as far as I know.

Stratavarious Violins?

Ahhh, I long for the days of thrusting a red hot sword into my enemies and then into a barrel of water and sheep skins..

There was a thread about a sweet royal golden rifle recently. Made over like 100 years. Forget the name of it tho.

a reply to: JoshuaCox

McLaren

No?

How about this?

a reply to: JoshuaCox

Why would you think that anything that man has created could not be created now by an equally skilled person using similar tools? I'm not sure that makes a lot of sense?

Have you ever seen for instance old jewelry up close? The workmanship was great for that time, but not up to par today. Methods have improved, but tools for hand working are similar.

Computer CPU's!!

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

They are indeed a marvel. Mind boggling tbh.

a reply to: JoshuaCox

Ok. It's your thread.

The native people of now-Northern California (e.g., the Maidu)--who were prohibited from practicing their traditional arts and religious beliefs by foreign invaders who were driven mad by their lust for control and possessions (e.g., fancy metals)--wove wonderfully beautiful and functional baskets.

a reply to: JoshuaCox




Granite.

originally posted by: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

originally posted by: pavil
a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Then we'd have to include Dragonfire.

Elvish Swords might be better. They freaking glow blue when goblins or orcs are nearby.

I believe those swords or replicated for the hobbit movie.

a reply to: JoshuaCox

I'm gonna say the pyramids of Giza.

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

I believe your talking about the Sultans rifle;
Pretty fricken sweet looking

a reply to: Macenroe82

Went for it already. See above.

a reply to: JoshuaCox



The Spanish Galleon. Then the Portuguese Galleons which were improved and tweaked when captured and put into military service by rival states. Europe kept them around in one variant or another for a long time.

They were mainly used for trade and were usually financed by groups of merchants.

Building one between hundreds of skilled craftsmen and specialized departments was the equivalent of a NASA team building a satellite for a far off space mission.

They even developed advanced rigging so a skeleton crew could sail the ship home if disaster struck while at war or exploring.

These ships were designed with a very advanced use of specialized construction materials and engineering concepts. They were also beautiful.

a reply to: Blaine91555

I am asking , not assuming anything..

I am wondering what would be considered the pinnacle of artisan craftsmanship and olhow that compares to the artisans of today..


I assume it could go either way, depending on the artist.

Many stone built structures around the world. Cathedrals, Pyramids, odd stone structures we all know and love. However, the oddest and most mysterious of all have to be be the stone walls in Cusco. I still cannot get my head around the precision in which these bad boys have been placed together. Look at the picture below and think about it for a moment. Each stone (Some weighing up to 60 plus tonnes) could not be chipped away at until the fit.

This picture shows Cuzco's famous 12-sided stone. The stones in this wall fit so perfectly, that you couldn't place a coin between them.





And remember folks, these were not small easy to handle block either. You could not simply place, remove, chip, replace like a normal handheld block.



Amazing