I UNDERSTAND BOTH POINTS OF VIEW AND LEAVE IT UP TO EACH COLLECTOR TO MAKE HIS OWN CHOICES. TO PUT A WIG AND MAKEUP ON A OLD BALD MAN TRYING TO RESTORE HIS FORMER YOUTH AND LOOKS IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY.
BUT A GOOD RESTORATION OF A WEAPON TO ITS EARLIER ORIGINAL CONDITION IS NOT THE SAME THING.
IF DONE PROPERLY USING THE SAME TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS TO RESTORE IT TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM AND NOT ADDING ANY EMBELLISHMENTS (DESIGNS, TALESMEN, ECT.) I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND IT MAKES THE ITEM LOOK NEW AND IS ALTERING ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THIS MAY INCREASE ITS WORTH TO SOME AND MAY RUIN IT FOR OTHERS DEPENDING ON THE POINT OF VIEW.
THE DAMAGE AND WEAR TO THE OBJECT OVER THE YEARS MAY HINT AT ITS HISTORY. WAS THE SILVER, GOLD AND JEWELS STRIPPED DURING HARD TIMES BY THE OWNER? PERHAPS IT WAS TAKEN IN BATTLE BY A ENEMY AND STRIPPED OR MODIFIED TO FIT ANOTHER CULTURE. THE LOOK OF A LESS PERFECT OLD WAR HORSE SPURS THE IMAGINATION AND BRINGS TO MIND ALL THESE QUESTIONS. I JUDGE EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY ON ITS OWN MERIT AND AS MOST OF MY COLLECTION IS NOT OF THE HIGH QUALITY THERE IS NO SILVER , GOLD OR JEWELS TO RESTORE.
WHILE WE ALL AGREE ON TAKING STEPS TO PRESERVE ITEMS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CONFLICTING VIEWS ON RESTORATION.
I AM PLEASED THAT JOSE IS WORKING TO LEARN AND FOLLOW THE OLD TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES AND THAT PROJECTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIM TO WORK ON AND LEARN FROM. I THINK HE LIKELY JUDGES EACH ITEM BEFORE HE DECIDES TO RESTORE OR LEAVE IT AS IS AS WE ALL DO. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A MEMBER WITH THE DESIRE AND SKILLS TO DO A PROPER JOB OF RESTORATION AND KEEP THE SKILLS ALIVE.