1

Erick Chavez-Arroyo

Professor David Babb

Art Appreciation 1100

5 October 5, 2018

Writing Assignment

Materials such as wood or clay are used to create art works. Most of these materials are

simple but they increase their monetary value and cultural value depending on few factors such

as: the artist who created the art work, other expensive materials added to the art work, and the

complexity of the art work. For example, the transformation of clay into ceramic. At first it was

named china and it was exported to other counties like Portugal and Europe. As the demand for

the ceramic objects increase so it did their monetary value until the point that they were beyond

their monetary value or uses purposes this due to the appealing and demonstrative qualities

established from the physical elements used in them, the procedures applied, and historical and

social associations they hold. Just like the ceramics works, wood was also used and still is being

used to create art works. Art works like sculptures, other objects, and architectural components

made out of wood were consider precious as well as art works made from different materials.

Wood art works were valued by the exotic wood utilized, the complexity of the piece, its

originality, and its cultural value. Art works have a cultural value and monetary value, these

values increase when the art work is done with rare kinds or wood, or it has unique designs, and

the finishing of the art work. For instance, the Tray with women and boys on a garden terrace, it

was made in wood and finished hundreds of layers of red lacquer. The red lacquer was done with
 2

resin from trees and then in the case of the tray, the lacquer was tinted red by adding a power

mercury sulfide called cinnabar. This finishing in the tray increases the cultural value of the art

work. Art works increase their monetary values and cultural values depending in the rareness of

the materials that they are made with, the extra components added to them such as lacquer, paint

or other materials, and the refined craftsmanship complexity.

Work Cited

Sachant, Pamela J. Introduction to art: design, context, and meaning. Dahlonega: Georgia,
University of North Georgia Press, 2016. University System of Georgia 30 Aug. 2018
htpp://ung.edu/university-press