The Artisan

This story can be downloaded as a PDF - click here!

A woodworkers workshop. Photo by Ono Kosuki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/jack-plane-and-wooden-plank-on-table-5974245/

The town of Okenridge is nestled on the crest of a hill overlooking an old oak forest. Abigail grew up in a small house at the edge of town. As a child she spent her time looking out the window daydreaming, her head full of plans to be the best woodworker in Okenridge. When she was sixteen she used her father’s worn-out tools to carve her first chair using wood she had foraged from the forest below her home. When she was finished she carried the chair to town. She had hopes of selling it in the market square.

By chance, on the same day, a fellow craftsman was in the market trying to sell a chair he had made. When he saw Abigail he questioned if she really expected to sell her chair; pointing out how poorly made her chair appeared to be.

Abigail looked at her chair, and she had to admit that his was better made. Where hers was rough and sharp, his was smooth and elegant. His had been oiled and polished and looked comfortable, while hers had knots and bumps and one of the legs was longer than the others. Despite these obvious differences Abigail ignored the man. She was determined to sell her creation.

Later that day a merchant walked through the market and stopped to admire the man's chair. After a brief inspection the merchant offered him two silver pieces for the chair. The craftsman did not even try to hide his joy. He told the merchant that if he liked the chair he could make an even better one, if he was willing to pay double in advance. The merchant agreed and handed over four silver pieces. He said that he was about to go on a trip and would return next month to pick up the new chair. The grinning craftsman left the market, keen to begin work on his next creation.

Abigail was left standing in the market, her chair still sat beside her. As the sun set Abigail stood up to leave, accepting defeat. As she did so a woman walked past and began to examine the chair. The woman told Abigail that she only had two copper pieces to offer. Abigail said that was more than acceptable and took the two coins with enthusiasm.

The next day Abigail returned to town to spend her two copper coins. She decided that, while she couldn’t buy much, she could at least get a better chisel. While walking through the market she caught sight of the craftsman. His arms were full of chisels, saw blades, and expensive looking wood oil in small glass vials. Eager to use his purchases he marched off, determination in his eyes. Abigail returned home with her chisel, it was second hand but it was still sharp and seemed well-made. As she began work on her next chair the job was much easier; the sharpened chisel created smoother edges and allowed her to add shape to the back of the chair. She finished the chair within a few days. When she stepped back and looked over her work she was pleased. It wasn't perfect, but it was an improvement.

Filled with pride she returned to the market. While waiting to sell her creation she once again caught sight of the craftsman. He was buying more material. This time he was going from stall to stall asking for the most expensive materials; she saw him buy silk, duck feathers and even small pots of gold paint.

Distracted by his activity Abigail had not noticed the young man who was looking at her chair. It was barely even midday. She had expected, like last time, to spend the whole day waiting. The man offered her 15 copper pieces for the chair. She was stunned, and willingly accepted his offer. She took the coins and spent the rest of the afternoon at the market upgrading her tools. She could now afford a sharper saw blade, a small sanding stone, and she had just enough left to get herself a leather apron.

Abigail was eager to make the most of her new tools. Thanks to their quality she found the work much easier and spent weeks in her workshop chopping, carving and sanding. By the end of the month she had made almost a dozen well crafted chairs, each one better than the last.

Covered in sawdust Abigail returned to the market with a stack of chairs. Within the first hour she sold half of them, each for a silver piece. Around midday Abigail spotted the merchant who had visited the town a month ago. He approached her and began admiring the remaining chairs. She asked if he was interested in buying one. He complimented the chairs saying they were elegantly crafted but, with a look of disappointment, he explained that he had already paid the craftsman and could not break a deal.

The merchant walked away to find the craftsman; he was not in the market square. After searching the town he found the craftsman in his workshop. The merchant opened the door to see the craftsman working away. In one corner sat a pile of chairs, some decorated with silk, others painted with gold, all unfinished and discarded. The craftsman explained that he was close to making the perfect chair, and with just a little more time and money he could finish it. The merchant was aghast and said he no longer needed the craftsman services.

The merchant returned to the market and asked Abigiail if she had any chairs left. She told him that, sadly, she had just sold the last chair. Frustrated, he asked if she would be willing to make anymore. She said that she had already had other people ask the same question, so he would have to wait another month.