Post #266901 by cheeky half on Wed, Nov 15, 2006 10:51 AM

Duke,

I agree with your "Things are only worth what the market will bear, and there are very different markets." The seller of this mosaic is apparently aiming at a market that is beyond the reach of many. That's his prerogative, and I guess if he doesn't find a buyer he may well lower his price.

On the subject of the aesthetic value of this piece, I'm also in complete agreement with you. It is a fantastic piece. I've wondered about this one for years. I'd always thought it was from a kit, although I have no evidence of that. Somewhere I have an old catalog from a company that made kits and patterns (of course I can't find it right now) and although this one isn't in it the styles are similar. I've seen this one in both the full size and the 1/2 size. By the way, did you flip the photo of yours, 'cos its right to left, compared with the other?

I assumed that along with a pattern you got a shopping list of what glass colors you were supposed to use. Following a trip to your local mosaic supply shop and many many many hours of back-breaking fun you'd end up with a fabulous tiki mosaic. This is why no two are really very similar. As a mosaicist myself I could see the possibility of making lots of the same, none of which would be identical, but they'd be pretty close. These babys are usually quite different in execution. And if factory-produced, why are there so few? This is a pretty big piece to mass produce. The fact that yours has the taller glass on the ear would also lead me to think 'home made'.

Let's get to the bottom of this mosaic of mystery and in the meantime I'll try and locate the patterns I have. I can't even remember the name of the Company that produced them.

Cheeky H