If I'm reading it correctly, the knifemaker is the brother of the author's son-in-law. So this is kind of a family thing taking place in public; one family mem

If I'm reading it correctly, the knifemaker is the brother of the author's son-in-law. So this is kind of a family thing taking place in public; one family member creates a work of art that is excessive for its intended use, and the other family member responds with a work of art that is excessive for its intended use. In both cases, the person is doing it because they can, not because they should. I'm not bothered at all; if this was supposed to be a news story it may be a different case.