What an amazing construction. It reminds me of a story from the metallurgist who visited the Breakers, the elaborate mansion complex of the Vanderbilt family, and on a tour was shown the Morning Room. The guide said the brilliant silver-white walls were silver plate. “How do you keep it from tarnishing?” He asked. The guide didn’t know, so the scientist asked for permission to test it.
Stories vary on whether he tested it or someone stopped him before taking a sample, but all agree on the technology used: that’s not silver. They coated an entire room with platinum.
technically a monarch: Pope Francis, famously kept his silver cross and made a big contrast with the more grandiose style of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Wouldn't really be to my taste either but this whole story just reminded me of how much more interestingly the wealthy used to spend their money.
What legacies of high craftsmanship will be left by Musk and Bezos and their ilk? The rich seem to have collectively decided to no longer value good taste.
And I believe this has downstream effects on the aesthetics of everyday things for the average person too. It seems the average person will never again enjoy public works projects that are aesthetically beautiful, like say the Brooklyn Bridge or New York Public Library. All the craftsmen required to build such things no longer exist because the wealthy do not employ them.
I mean Musk is a somewhat bad example as the rocket engines SpaceX developed are high craftsmanship to the point their competitors said the engines were impossible.
I'm not sure I know anyone who would choose to decorate their home this way; I think that level of opulence is very much "of its time". Currently minimalism and "quiet luxury" are more in vogue.
But IMO it is still possible to admire it as a passer-by. If nothing else it is a fascinating piece of history.
I find it extraordinary that it took only 10 years for early 18th century craftsmen to make it, but it required 24 years to reconstruct despite having access to late 20th century tools and technology.
I suppose the original craftsmen could do whatever came easily given their tools, abilities, and constraints, whereas the reconstructors had to replicate whatever the original craftsmen did even when it did not come easily to them.
Given how fine the details are, it's unlikely that anything but manual labor and hand tools were used.
> - better and faster-drying adhesives and paint
One of the features of the room is that it's made from materials that don't require paint, e.g. it is natural amber and gold plating (or solid gold?). Not sure about adhesives, you may have a point there.
> - personal protective equipment (e.g. masks and goggles), allowing craftsmen to work longer continuous hours without risking their health
There's nothing much hazardous about gold or amber.
> - better and vastly more ergonomic optical equipment (jeweler loupes, microscopes, etc.)
The details are fine, but not that fine. We're not making the smallest wrist-watch in the world here. This is evident from wiki pictures.
Stories vary on whether he tested it or someone stopped him before taking a sample, but all agree on the technology used: that’s not silver. They coated an entire room with platinum.