"I don't like to sell my finest pieces"

Beatrice Wood’s assertion, “I don’t like to sell my finest pieces,” reveals a complex emotional relationship between the creator and her art. For Wood, the act of creation goes beyond the simple production of objects meant for commercial transaction. Her finest pieces likely represent the pinnacle of her artistic achievement, the culmination of both technical mastery and deeply personal expression. These works are imbued with an irreplaceable part of herself; they are extensions of her feelings, memories, and intentions.

Selling such creations can feel akin to relinquishing a treasured aspect of her very being. There is an inherent vulnerability artists endure when presenting their most meaningful work to the world, let alone allowing it to pass into someone else’s possession. The finest pieces are not just commodities, they hold stories, experiments, frustrations, and breakthroughs that may never be replicated. The artist’s struggle for new forms and ideas is etched into them. Their existence serves as a marker of growth and inspiration, a reference point for future creative journeys.

Furthermore, keeping these pieces allows Beatrice Wood to preserve her own legacy in a tangible way. They are reminders of her capabilities, ambitions, and the risks she dared to take. In an industry where financial gain often pressures artists to prioritize production for sale, her reluctance to part with her best work becomes a statement about value, not economic, but personal and artistic. Ownership over her finest pieces asserts her independence from the market and affirms her devotion to her craft’s integrity.

This approach also suggests an underlying reverence for the mystery and intimacy of true artistic achievement. Some creations, especially those arising from profound inspiration or breakthrough, may be too precious to be reduced to mere transactions. By holding onto her finest pieces, Wood maintains a connection to the magic and meaning of her own creative process, refusing to let everything she treasures be exchanged for monetary compensation.