WALLACE COLLECTION Oriental Room, London UK

spiral · 14th July 2010, 08:49 AM

Thank you Alex for the time taken in taking & sharing these.

Truly stunning pieces.

Spiral

Berkley · 14th July 2010, 12:56 PM

Alex, we are all greatly indebted to you for sharing these remarkable works of art with us. My sincerest thanks.
Berkley

RSWORD · 14th July 2010, 01:04 PM

Thanks Alex for taking the time to photograph so many wonderful pieces and sharing a wide variety of them. The pictures are very good and clear and highlight both the quality and fine details of these pieces. A take away for me is to see superb 18th and 19th century weapons where the gold koftgari is absolutely pristine. No wear or anything. If we were to see an Indian sword these days in this kind of condition we might question the authenticity of the gold work but as we can see here, if an item is carefully kept all these years the goldwork can remain in "as new" condition. Absolutely wonderful!

Gavin Nugent · 10th August 2010, 08:06 AM

I am hungry for more Alex, how goes your next series of pics?

Best

Gav

Lee · 10th August 2010, 03:56 PM

What a fabulous photo of one of my favorite items in the Wallace collection! The reflections of the windows really bring the ambiance of this museum back to me - and I visit these galleries every time I visit London.

This sword is briefly discussed in: Oakeshott, R. Ewart, "Old Wine in New Bottles," Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 8 (1991), p. 18 - 21. Mr. Oakeshott dates the hilt as c. 1690 and the blade as a century earlier (the catalog dates it as possibly early 15th century); much of Mr. Oakeshott's discussion is centered upon the incompletely resolved question of whether the blade is of Spanish or German origin. The catalog describes the blade as 37 1/2 inches in length by 2 1/2 inches width at the hilt.

Even though much of the collection is ultra-richly decorated early 19th century, Wallace's buyers also acquired some really fine earlier examples!

There are a number of really fine European medieval swords in the next room...

carlitobrigante · 17th September 2010, 09:57 PM

hi went recently, i must have been in there for about 4 hours, although the first hour was spent trying to pick jaw back up off the floor

some pics of my own unfortunately nowhere near as good as the ones above..

One of the worlds finest collections for sure.

Nathaniel · 17th September 2010, 11:19 PM

carlitobrigante, thanks for the additional photos....disappointed though...no Dha? Love to plan a trip to the UK sometime... allot of nice arms collections there....

Nathaniel · 17th September 2010, 11:27 PM

Holy man! I just saw the 2nd set of pictures Alex took on the 1st page...the pieces from China, Tibet, Butan and more Indo/Ceyon pieces...

wow...wow...wow...Wallace had some fantastic taste!!! Stunning craftsmanship!

VANDERNOTTE · 27th November 2012, 11:37 PM

alex
tanks for the pic,a dream for any collector
regard
jacques

spiral · 28th November 2012, 10:20 PM

Thanks, Steve, Alex, Shimmerxxx erc.. Truly pieces to aspire to....

Spiral

ariel · 29th November 2012, 10:37 PM

I remember being there and having fantasies about nighttime... black balaclavas.... lock picks.... getaway cars....
To my taste, this is by far the best Oriental collection, with no average quality pieces, just the elite.

From time to time I hear rumors about Wallace publishing a full catalogue of their Oriental Room. Have you heard anything? Or is it just another of my fantasies?

One thing that surprised me a lot was the virtually complete absense of wootz patterns: all blades were brilliantly polished but not etched. The same is true abour the catalogue of the Dresden Turkish Chamber. Obviously, that must be a philosophy of the museum: etching is a controlled rusting, and they must have made a conservation decision.

David · 30th November 2012, 04:49 AM

Great collection! I hope you guys don't mind if i move a couple of your images over to the Keris Forum.

10th August 2010, 08:06 AM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Hungry I am hungry for more Alex, how goes your next series of pics? Best Gav

10th August 2010, 03:56 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	O.A.1873 What a fabulous photo of one of my favorite items in the Wallace collection! The reflections of the windows really bring the ambiance of this museum back to me - and I visit these galleries every time I visit London. This sword is briefly discussed in: Oakeshott, R. Ewart, "Old Wine in New Bottles," Park Lane Arms Fair Catalogue 8 (1991), p. 18 - 21. Mr. Oakeshott dates the hilt as c. 1690 and the blade as a century earlier (the catalog dates it as possibly early 15th century); much of Mr. Oakeshott's discussion is centered upon the incompletely resolved question of whether the blade is of Spanish or German origin. The catalog describes the blade as 37 1/2 inches in length by 2 1/2 inches width at the hilt. Even though much of the collection is ultra-richly decorated early 19th century, Wallace's buyers also acquired some really fine earlier examples! There are a number of really fine European medieval swords in the next room... Attached Images

27th November 2012, 11:37 PM	#9
VANDERNOTTE Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 60	wallase coll. alex tanks for the pic,a dream for any collector regard jacques

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14th July 2010, 08:49 AM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thank you Alex for the time taken in taking & sharing these. Truly stunning pieces. Spiral

14th July 2010, 12:56 PM	#2
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Alex, we are all greatly indebted to you for sharing these remarkable works of art with us. My sincerest thanks. Berkley

14th July 2010, 01:04 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	Thanks Alex for taking the time to photograph so many wonderful pieces and sharing a wide variety of them. The pictures are very good and clear and highlight both the quality and fine details of these pieces. A take away for me is to see superb 18th and 19th century weapons where the gold koftgari is absolutely pristine. No wear or anything. If we were to see an Indian sword these days in this kind of condition we might question the authenticity of the gold work but as we can see here, if an item is carefully kept all these years the goldwork can remain in "as new" condition. Absolutely wonderful!

17th September 2010, 09:57 PM	#6
carlitobrigante Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 81	hi went recently, i must have been in there for about 4 hours, although the first hour was spent trying to pick jaw back up off the floor some pics of my own unfortunately nowhere near as good as the ones above.. One of the worlds finest collections for sure.

17th September 2010, 11:19 PM	#7
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	carlitobrigante, thanks for the additional photos....disappointed though...no Dha? Love to plan a trip to the UK sometime... allot of nice arms collections there....

17th September 2010, 11:27 PM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Holy man! I just saw the 2nd set of pictures Alex took on the 1st page...the pieces from China, Tibet, Butan and more Indo/Ceyon pieces... wow...wow...wow...Wallace had some fantastic taste!!! Stunning craftsmanship!

28th November 2012, 10:20 PM	#10
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thanks, Steve, Alex, Shimmerxxx erc.. Truly pieces to aspire to.... Spiral

29th November 2012, 10:37 PM	#11
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I remember being there and having fantasies about nighttime... black balaclavas.... lock picks.... getaway cars.... To my taste, this is by far the best Oriental collection, with no average quality pieces, just the elite. From time to time I hear rumors about Wallace publishing a full catalogue of their Oriental Room. Have you heard anything? Or is it just another of my fantasies? One thing that surprised me a lot was the virtually complete absense of wootz patterns: all blades were brilliantly polished but not etched. The same is true abour the catalogue of the Dresden Turkish Chamber. Obviously, that must be a philosophy of the museum: etching is a controlled rusting, and they must have made a conservation decision.

30th November 2012, 04:49 AM	#12
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Great collection! I hope you guys don't mind if i move a couple of your images over to the Keris Forum.