The Practice Effect

The Practice Effect is a novel by David Brin, written in 1984 (see 1984 in literature).

An earth scientist is sent to another world where instead of objects wearing out as you use them, they improve. For example, swords get sharper when wielded often, baskets get less holes the more things they carry, broaches get shinier the more they are worn. This had certain side-effects such as kings getting servants to make poor objects, use them a lot until they are nearly perfect, and then give them to the king. In this universe there are certain similarities with Lamarck's theory of biological evolution.