Quote:
Although chrome was used on the tips of bronze Chinese crossbows and tips found in tombs, chrome plating was not in production until the 19th century, and that being in use by the West, especially after large deposits of chrome were found in the US and then later in Turkey. Chrome by itself is not indigenous to Southeast Asia as far as I know.
As I mentioned earlier, the common practice by both Victorian and American collectors of ethnographic weaponry (and US Civil War) was to plate the blade to prevent rusting. I even know of a collector that 2 years ago took a US Civil War foot officer's sword and chromed it to get a shiny blade!
|
This is more in answer to my original question about chrome plating. What I wanted to know was if it was a common practice in the Philippines to chrome plate blades. I know it was in the U.S. at one point but, if it was a practice in the Philippines to do this I thought it would be better to leave it as is. If it was done in this country after the piece was brought here then removing the plating would be an acceptable thing to do.
Robert