Good discussion.

My point on engraving was to execution rather than form. Clearly we will be unable to agree on grades for form. But I think we can agree that an apprentice's execution would be at a lower quality grade than a master's for identical form. Thus we have grades of execution.

Grading engraving execution is tough. However, I think our eyes see things our brains have difficulty completely defining. This is the "know it when I see it" situation.

Only a good many hours of study of engraving will yield a basis for grading. Study of auction catalogs is good practice and may give a basis for fairly "course" grading.

DDA