10 Of The World’s Priciest Arts And Art Supplies | So Expensive | Insider Business

This paragraph discusses the intricate and time-consuming process of making high-quality Japanese sumi ink sticks and calligraphy brushes in Nara, Japan. It focuses on the company Kobaien which has been making ink sticks for over 450 years using traditional techniques like catching smoke to collect soot and kneading the ink dough by hand and foot. The paragraph also touches on the difficulty of finding quality materials like animal glue and rapeseed oil to make the ink. It explains why these writing tools are so prized and expensive due to the craftsmanship involved.

This paragraph provides more details on Kobaien's sumi ink production process. It explains steps like dissolving animal glue as a binding agent, the importance of thoroughly kneading the ink dough, and slowly drying and aging ink sticks for at least 4 years to achieve proper consistency and color. The paragraph also notes that it takes extensive training to become an ink craftsperson at Kobaien.

This paragraph focuses on Tunisian craftsman Ghassen Nouira's complex process for making rare and expensive Tyrian purple dye from murex sea snails. It details the laborious techniques like extracting the pigment-containing gland from each snail, purifying and drying the extract through multiple rounds to get 1 gram of dye from 100 lbs of snails. It also touches on the history of Tyrian purple as a pigment used since antiquity and Ghassen's motivation to revive this traditional dye.

This paragraph examines the Vietnamese art of son mai lacquer painting using toxic sap from a Southeast Asian tree. It highlights the immense patience, precision and unpredictability involved in creating these paintings by building up numerous layers of paint and sanding back to reveal the image. The rarity of the natural lacquer and long training required to master the techniques contribute to the great value of these paintings.

This paragraph explores why high-quality oil paints can be so costly, attributing it to the laborious and expensive process of obtaining certain pigments. It details how desired colors like ultramarine and mummy brown involved mining gemstones or using the remains of Egyptian mummies, showing the lengths taken for precious pigments.

This paragraph focuses on an Ohio-based startup harvesting iron oxide pigment from acidic pollution draining from abandoned coal mines to create vivid reclaimed paint colors. It outlines their process of collecting, filtering and drying the toxic sludge, then partnering with a company to transform the recycled material into sustainable art supplies.

This paragraph centers on Japanese blacksmith Yasuhiro Hirakawa's intricate process for producing specialty bonsai trimming scissors using centuries-old samurai sword techniques. It details the skilled steps like forge-welding steel and hand-filing to shape each durable, razor-sharp pair of scissors that can fetch thousands from devoted bonsai gardeners.

This paragraph examines the high value of expertly-nurtured bonsai trees, tracing it to the extreme time and care required to shape and restrict each miniature plant's growth. It notes that certain techniques, tools, tree varieties and artistry involved play a role too for these meticulously crafted living artworks that may be centuries old.

This paragraph analyzes reasons why seemingly simple modern artworks can be worth millions, attributing it to shifts in conceptual art valuing skill less than innovative ideas. It suggests dismissal of such art stems from associations with value and skill rather than appreciation of groundbreaking vision.

This final paragraph spotlights the dedicated continuity of Japanese bonsai scissor artisan Yasuhiro Hirakawa's family workshop facing declining demand. It conveys his commitment to upholding standards and passing knowledge to the next generation despite being the last family member practicing the painstaking craft.