For some people, it doesn't matter how an object is made. They only consider its function. Take a knife for instance. If its cuts well, that's all that is important to some.
For others, how an object is made is also important. Given that it also cuts well, some people would place greater value on a hand made/forged knife.
Why is that? Is it mere artifice? Is it fetishism? There can be more than one reason, and different people will have different reasons. Are there any defendable reasons with merit?
Consider also a house. It keeps its occupants warm/cool, dry, and secure. It could be a prefab house, a cookie cutter subdivision house, or a largely hand crafted timber frame house. Is there a difference in inherent (non-commercial) value?
What do you think?
Depends on the specific object.
If we're talking cameras.... I've owned a bunch of Leica stuff. I've owned a bunch of gear from a bunch of other manufacturers. The Leica stuff, by far, has been more unreliable and/or temperamental. Canon and Nikon gear JUST WORKS. So, if the Leica is 'handmade,' and doesn't perform as expected, the 'handmadedness' is just a bout of wanking.
I didn't buy the Leica stuff because it was handmade. I actually don't care one way or the other with photographic equipment. I know some people sorta 'get off' on knowing an item was made in a certain country, by people with a certain distinction and all that. I always thought that was sorta ridiculous with cameras. But, i'm not 'anti-' whatever it is we're talking about. I'd much rather have a German car than one from Japan or Korea or the US. That's not a 'handmade' issue, but maybe one of the provenance/snobbery combo. Not sure if that's just because i prefer the aesthetics, engineering, and heritage, or if i have some prejudices at work.
Handmade, to me, isn't really an important distinction unless we're talking about art. And, in that, i might sometimes include furnishings. But, even with furniture, i'd still choose aesthetics and function over handmadedness.
Someone just mentioned guitars. I've bought a bunch, and never ever noted whether any were handmade or not. I assumed not, as i haven't bought any custom instruments. I do care where they're built, though, but only because resale value is a factor.
I can't think of much that i have that i expect to be handmade. I have some Sonus-Faber loudspeakers. Maybe they are? But, i bought them because of the sound and their physical beauty. I don't really care if they're made with the same machines as Bose. Watches? Again, i think it's all about design for me. I'm a graphic designer, and aesthetics take precedence much of the time. I don't know how my Panerai or Tag are made. And, fact is, i've had fakes that were as reliable as my real ones.
Oh- i once bought an old vase at a flea market in Rio. I have no idea where it came from, but it's beautiful. I hope very much that it is handmade and unique, and not something that could have been bought in their version of Crate and Barrel. But, that's back to Art and furnishings. With 'tools,' i really just want them to perform and give me an enjoyable experience while they're performing. Some people might get more out of the experience if they value the craft that went into that particular tool. I'm always much more focused on the task, though, and not about a 'fairy tale.' That last bit sounds dismissive and condescending, but it's not how i meant it. It's sorta like how people with Leicas sorta feel like they're 'channeling' HC-B when they're shooting, because they've got 'his' camera. We sometimes like to create stories for ourselves as it aggrandizes our lives, right?
