The Higher Standard

M ELEY · 3rd January 2013, 04:11 AM

"I ain't much for fancy book-learnin'"-

Just kidding and very well put, Rick.

Battara, loved those stories and wanted to add one of my own. I once picked up a Dutch hanger circa 1730 from an antiques market outside of Colonial Williamsburg. The seller insisted it was 'Civil War' with a whole boulderdash story of its history. The point was, he knew it wasn't CW and in his mind, less valuable. I knew what it was, liked the price and picked it up a happy man! No harm, no foul. Didn't even bother to educate him on its history or value.

Rick · 3rd January 2013, 05:45 AM

Arrrr, mate; everything nautical I learned was at a rope's end ..

Sometimes we can turn the tables on an ignorant Seller and the Hunter then becomes the Hunted .

M ELEY · 3rd January 2013, 02:07 PM

Hey, most pirates were honest chaps, really!

Perhaps we should start a thread on the best piece we ever landed despite the tall tales & odds? Or...we could mention it here (yes, it is fun to gloat a little)

Last year, I managed to pick up that rather rare naval dress dirk from a guy who thought it was from 'Persia' based on the Arabic styling. A name scratched into the guard, 'Ahaoda', seemed odd. As it turns out, it came from an estate of a Mr Hughes. With research, I found that the Celtic family name for Hughes is Ahaoda! I felt so guilty that I never told the seller. I don't like cheating folks, but I suspected it was naval and took a chance. Anyone else out there got a 'turn the tables' story? It might liven the cheat/fraud stories a bit.

PClemente · 4th January 2013, 02:18 AM

Like the idea! Sure there are plenty of negative tales of unscrupulous dealers, but also plenty of stories of great buys by learned collectors!

Years ago I was wandering through an antique market looking for interesting military antiques and came across what the dealer claimed was a Rev War English Dragoon pistol, the only problem being that it was one of the notorious copies built in Japan post WW2. As my wife pulled me along I noticed in the same glass case what appeared to be an old miniature portrait of a soldier in armor. The dealer was so intent on trying to sell me the flintlock and gain a big sale that he downplayed the miniature as an old little painting he had picked up as part of a bigger lot in Europe years previous. I told him my suspicions about the gun, and he seemed legitimately surprised. I then examined and bought the miniature. Now I don't collect art, but because of my interest and research in the Thirty Years War I recognized the small portrait as that of Christian the Younger (or "The Mad" according to Catholic propaganda at the time), who was a famous Protestant military leader early in the war. The portrait looked to be oil on copper which I remembered as one of the styles of the early 17th century, and the frame was covered in old wormholes and looked period. The portrait wasn't much and worth the risk, and turned out to be a genuine period portrait of the Protestant hero. Upon further examination I even found an old collection label on the back of the copper dating to the early 1900's. Now I am not saying the portrait is a five figure lottery winning, but it turned out to be a truly historical piece worth a lot more than I paid, and it became a welcome addition to my fledgling collection of Thirty Years War militaria, all because I initially took interest in a fake flintlock.
I would love to hear stories of other great buys on your part!

kronckew · 4th January 2013, 07:16 AM

my 'egyptian machete' remains my best vendor mangled description. the burmese presentation script engraved into the silver portion of the grip didn't impress him much. cost me all of 5 pounds at auction. the description kept the sharks at bay

i even tried to warn him...

A Senefelder · 4th January 2013, 01:08 PM

I scored a Maximillian right leg c. late 1520's for a couple of C notes from a fella in Australia on epray who thouhgt it was a Victorian era theater prop.

M ELEY · 4th January 2013, 04:44 PM

Wow! Now that's what I'm talking about! Spectacular finds and treasures! These are the ones we've got to hold on to to make up for those other times when we're not so lucky in the purchase. I did score an authentic French cuirass breast plate armor being sold as repro once, but not even in the same league as your Maximillian piece. Wow again!

4th January 2013, 02:18 AM	#4
PClemente Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 42	Perhaps we should start a thread on the best piece we ever landed despite the tall ta Like the idea! Sure there are plenty of negative tales of unscrupulous dealers, but also plenty of stories of great buys by learned collectors! Years ago I was wandering through an antique market looking for interesting military antiques and came across what the dealer claimed was a Rev War English Dragoon pistol, the only problem being that it was one of the notorious copies built in Japan post WW2. As my wife pulled me along I noticed in the same glass case what appeared to be an old miniature portrait of a soldier in armor. The dealer was so intent on trying to sell me the flintlock and gain a big sale that he downplayed the miniature as an old little painting he had picked up as part of a bigger lot in Europe years previous. I told him my suspicions about the gun, and he seemed legitimately surprised. I then examined and bought the miniature. Now I don't collect art, but because of my interest and research in the Thirty Years War I recognized the small portrait as that of Christian the Younger (or "The Mad" according to Catholic propaganda at the time), who was a famous Protestant military leader early in the war. The portrait looked to be oil on copper which I remembered as one of the styles of the early 17th century, and the frame was covered in old wormholes and looked period. The portrait wasn't much and worth the risk, and turned out to be a genuine period portrait of the Protestant hero. Upon further examination I even found an old collection label on the back of the copper dating to the early 1900's. Now I am not saying the portrait is a five figure lottery winning, but it turned out to be a truly historical piece worth a lot more than I paid, and it became a welcome addition to my fledgling collection of Thirty Years War militaria, all because I initially took interest in a fake flintlock. I would love to hear stories of other great buys on your part!

4th January 2013, 07:16 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,216	my 'egyptian machete' remains my best vendor mangled description. the burmese presentation script engraved into the silver portion of the grip didn't impress him much. cost me all of 5 pounds at auction. the description kept the sharks at bay i even tried to warn him... Attached Images

4th January 2013, 01:08 PM	#6
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	I scored a Maximillian right leg c. late 1520's for a couple of C notes from a fella in Australia on epray who thouhgt it was a Victorian era theater prop. Attached Images

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3rd January 2013, 04:11 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	"I ain't much for fancy book-learnin'"- Just kidding and very well put, Rick. Battara, loved those stories and wanted to add one of my own. I once picked up a Dutch hanger circa 1730 from an antiques market outside of Colonial Williamsburg. The seller insisted it was 'Civil War' with a whole boulderdash story of its history. The point was, he knew it wasn't CW and in his mind, less valuable. I knew what it was, liked the price and picked it up a happy man! No harm, no foul. Didn't even bother to educate him on its history or value.

3rd January 2013, 05:45 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Arrrr, mate; everything nautical I learned was at a rope's end .. Sometimes we can turn the tables on an ignorant Seller and the Hunter then becomes the Hunted .

3rd January 2013, 02:07 PM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Hey, most pirates were honest chaps, really! Perhaps we should start a thread on the best piece we ever landed despite the tall tales & odds? Or...we could mention it here (yes, it is fun to gloat a little) Last year, I managed to pick up that rather rare naval dress dirk from a guy who thought it was from 'Persia' based on the Arabic styling. A name scratched into the guard, 'Ahaoda', seemed odd. As it turns out, it came from an estate of a Mr Hughes. With research, I found that the Celtic family name for Hughes is Ahaoda! I felt so guilty that I never told the seller. I don't like cheating folks, but I suspected it was naval and took a chance. Anyone else out there got a 'turn the tables' story? It might liven the cheat/fraud stories a bit.

4th January 2013, 04:44 PM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Wow! Now that's what I'm talking about! Spectacular finds and treasures! These are the ones we've got to hold on to to make up for those other times when we're not so lucky in the purchase. I did score an authentic French cuirass breast plate armor being sold as repro once, but not even in the same league as your Maximillian piece. Wow again!