Can't...resist urge. Must touch...wooden birdy.

I think you need to stop inviting men to your abode, and not only will your art work not be touched but they will not pee on your toilet floor either.

WOW... RELAX! (Or start giving a Do's and Don'ts list out to visitors)

A very nice sculpture and I know it has special meaning to you as all of my art and interesting items I put all around my house mean special things to me. In my opinion, if it isn't supposed to be touched either put a sign on it or put it on a shelf. I would NOT put it under a Plexiglas stand.. Wood should breathe!

I encourage people to pick my stuff up... That's why it is there... to spark conversation! The only things that shouldn't be touched are where they should be for things that really shouldn't be touched... On the mantle, a shelf, or on the wall. Perhaps you should mount your sculpture on the wall?

The patina that things pick up over the years show how much they have been treasured and enjoyed. You should think about that!

If you were to ever bark at me like that if I were to have picked up your sculpture... First I would suggest you put it in a spot that doesn't entice people to do just that.. I mean seriously? Coffee table items scream to be picked up! I have never been to a house where people put "don't touch" items on their coffee table. Secondly... I'd never be back after a dressing down like that.

You asked.

It’s beautiful and precious to you, so just put it behind glass or on a high shelf or this will happen time and again. Wood invites us to touch it, there is something very tactile inducing in a beautiful wooden object. When we invite others into our homes we also must expect human behaviour which sometimes may not please us, but we cannot live in isolation. People and friendships, are more important than objects, no matter how precious or beautiful, in my opinion.

men tend to touch women without asking; what's to stop them from touching mere things, however precious?

g

You are right to protect this beautiful piece of art. Maybe when men come over, you should treat them like children, and put the loon bowl away.

This cereal bowl is lovely. sorry my froot loops stained it purple, but thats what ya get for making a bowl shaped like a Toucan. ohhhhh and your priceless sarcophagus, yup, count chocula.

I’d say putting it on your coffee table is pretty much an invitation for it to be picked up and examined.

I'd probably pick it up and act like I am a 5 year old running around with a toy rocket..

wwooooooooooooossssshhhhhh

So, I would never put something on my coffee table that I would not want touched. Maybe I think that way because I’m a man? I don’t know.

Sounds like ideal behavior is expected from imperfect humans . I'd definitely place it somewhere else. Or hide it when men come over ... ha.

As an addendum , I'm glad that most of the men I've been exposed to have been sensitive enough to know better. Might have something to do with the fact that there are artists musicians and actors among them. Though I find no particular guarantees in civil behavior based on education level. Or gender either for that matter !

I was an antique dealer for fifteen years, and have seen both men AND women pick up and handle/fondle things they shouldn't have. Which is why antique shops generally have a sign in a prominent place, reading "Pretty to look at. Pretty to hold. But if you break it, consider it sold!".

Is that a place to stand your coffee, just behind the head?

The problem is that it looks like a 'practical item' with the bowl/recess in the middle. It looks like something someone would have specifically for the purpose of having somewhere to keep their keys - in short it doesn't 'look like art', it looks like a practical key-bowl, and a fascinating one that people will want to look closely at. And keeping it on your coffee table puts it in a 'practical key-bowl' context.

So yes, I can understand why it's annoying - but I also understand why it happens.

I have a very delicate silver sculpture that i have had for over 40 years, It has a glass case. I have had people actually lift the case off to examine it more closely. I finally had to put it out of reach of everyone.

It's awesome. In my experience most will not know the value/ beauty of an item. I always keep stuff I don't want touched in my display/China cabinet. I don't get the enjoyment of it being fully displayed but get peace of mind and less aggravation.

put it somewhere untouchable - maybe your bedroom - where you see it, enjoy it, but don't have to worry about it.
Get a cheap wood turned bowl for the coffee tble, keys, change, sweeties, etc

I've been trying to teach the 6 year old, "If it's not yours, don't touch".
Sounds like we're having the same level of success.
I, at least, have hope for the small human.

I guess saying, "that's ART, you philistine!!!!", is out of the question?

Many, myself I would have no reason to pick it up and examine the piece but I do question the sense to leaving it where someone could pick it up and do so if you hold it in such high regard. By the way they have signs up at the Corning Glass museum in their art section to not touch the pieces for the same reasons you have mentioned.

NOTE: Your pictures don't do it justice. Zoomed in on an enhanced copy I made. But still. To an uncouth lout such as myself, it looks like something I'd have picked up in a souvenir shop in Alaska, or NZ. Or a flea market.

Good way to weed out men without manners.

If you mounted it so that it actually looked like "art on display", instead of just a knick-knack, they might keep their hands off:

I once bought a delicate, hand painted pie crust table and when my son came home he dropped his backpack on it and when my ex came home, he pretty much did the same thing. Both of them got reamed out. I took it back the next day. I have found Men love to touch wood in particular. People touch things and the only way to keep it untouched is to move it from harms way when company arrives. I invested in glass cases for the things that are too fragile, and have never regretted it.

Things on the coffee table are there for everyone to touch. You don't get to make special rules.

Put it elsewhere.

Sadly this is something society does not teach us men. We are hardly ever taught how to properly treat art. I recommend put it somewhere we won't be able to touch it. Else the typical male will think it's jist a bowl or a key holder or worse an ash yray