So I'm relatively new to galleries--I've only been selling in them for a little over a year. I've had good luck so far with things, pretty good sales, some owners are picky, but all in all they seem to like and appreciate my work. I had a call the other day from one gallery owner telling me that a piece had been damaged. I brought them a large bark edged burl bowl, roughly 15x10". I havent seen it yet, but apparently someone tried to pick it up by the bark. I used a liberal amount of CA glue, and it was all quite solid----I checked very carefully before dropping it off. The owner said it was a very clean break, and thinks it can be fixed, but expressed concern about her staff watching customers, etc.
I really like the gallery--it gets a lot of traffic in a tourist heavy area. They haven't sold a lot of bowls, but have a bit more upscale clientele than some other places. I told her I would come in and fix the piece, and then bring it back. I'm a very good natured person, and told her when I brought the piece in that it was very fragile, but didn't want to sound too pushy about putting up a sign or not letting anyone touch it, but that appears to be a mistake I won't make again. I knew that the owner couldn't have done anything about it after the fact, but I wonder, what do other people do in this situation?? I didn't ask for any compensation, and don't really feel like it was totally their fault--I should've said DON'T LET CUSTOMERS PICK IT UP!!!! I wasn't angry when I talked with the gallery owner, but I'm a little peeved that someone would break something and walk off without saying anything!!!
I'm planning on asking to put a "please do not pick up" sign next to it, with a price tag. Is it tacky to put a tag next to a piece in a mixed arts gallery--local crafts, oil paintings, quilts, other woodwork, fine jewelry, etc. Oil paintings have price tags displayed on them; is this appropriate? I don't want people to casually pick this up unless they're purchasing it.
I need to know what is appropriate here. I'm worried that the piece won't sell with a repaired edge. I'm planning on using black CA for the fix, but I don't know if that's enough.... HELP!!!!
I really like the gallery--it gets a lot of traffic in a tourist heavy area. They haven't sold a lot of bowls, but have a bit more upscale clientele than some other places. I told her I would come in and fix the piece, and then bring it back. I'm a very good natured person, and told her when I brought the piece in that it was very fragile, but didn't want to sound too pushy about putting up a sign or not letting anyone touch it, but that appears to be a mistake I won't make again. I knew that the owner couldn't have done anything about it after the fact, but I wonder, what do other people do in this situation?? I didn't ask for any compensation, and don't really feel like it was totally their fault--I should've said DON'T LET CUSTOMERS PICK IT UP!!!! I wasn't angry when I talked with the gallery owner, but I'm a little peeved that someone would break something and walk off without saying anything!!!
I'm planning on asking to put a "please do not pick up" sign next to it, with a price tag. Is it tacky to put a tag next to a piece in a mixed arts gallery--local crafts, oil paintings, quilts, other woodwork, fine jewelry, etc. Oil paintings have price tags displayed on them; is this appropriate? I don't want people to casually pick this up unless they're purchasing it.
I need to know what is appropriate here. I'm worried that the piece won't sell with a repaired edge. I'm planning on using black CA for the fix, but I don't know if that's enough.... HELP!!!!