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Old 31st March 2014, 05:59 PM   #3
VANDOO
(deceased)
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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CONGRADULATIONS! A VERY NICE EXAMPLE
FOR SOME REASON WE COLLECTORS DON'T LIKE VARNISH ,SHELLAC OR PAINT ON OUR POINTY THINGS. THIS IS STRANGE AS IT IS USED TO SEAL AND PROTECT AND BRING OUT THE COLOR AND GRAIN OF THE WOOD AND IS A COMMON PRACTICE. IN THE PAST BLADES WERE OFTEN COATED WITH ONE OF THESE TO PREVENT RUST WHEN A SWORD WAS IN A COLLECTION AND NO LONGER TO BE USED. SOME GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS LIKED TO USE COLORFUL PAINTS ON THEIR SCABBARDS AND SOMETIMES HANDLES AS THEY THOUGHT IT MADE THEM MORE BEAUTIFUL.
WITH ANTIQUE FURNITURE HAVING A GOOD OLD COMPLETE ORIGINAL FINISH INHANCES THE BEAUTY AND VALUE. OFTEN REMOVING THE FINISH OR REFINISHING A ITEM LOWERS ITS VALUE.
I PERSONALLY DON'T MIND THE FINNISH AS IT PROTECTS THE WOOD FROM DIRT AND MOISTURE AND HELPS PREVENT WOOD SPLITTING AND WEAR AND IS USUALLY ORIGINAL TO THE ITEM WHEN IT WAS MADE. THE VARNISH ON THE BLADE IS NOT, SO I PREFER TO REMOVE IT THOUGH IT OFTEN HELPS TELL THE TIME WHEN THE ITEM WAS COLLECTED.
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