Exhibitions online

Antonio Cejunior · 24th July 2005, 04:10 AM

Hi Andrew,

Thank you actually. I wasn't sure I was infringing any rules. My purpose was not that.
I'm more interested in sharing the inter connectivity and by the way I wonder if you or any member of this wonderful forum has any information of any fountain pen brand made of steel, be it brushed, damascus, anything.
It would really be very enriching to me to find out about that.

Andrew, expect a PM and and email in about 10 minutes. The time it takes to write it

Thank you,
Best
Antonio

Mark · 25th July 2005, 03:07 PM

Antonio,

You are so correct about the inter-connected-ness of things in life and experience. I think it entirely appropriate to discuss the connections between, say a Ducati disc brake and a tsuba on this forum. As you have said, what we perceive as barriers in most cases do not exist at all, as they are just logical constructs. Both the brake and the tsuba, though of course fundamentally functional, go beyond function. There is so much in the realm of edged weapons (not uniquely so, of course, but that is what this forum is all about), that likewise goes far beyond function and into the realm of design, esthetics, history and culture.

So often the decorative motifs seen on edged weapons reflect the culture and history of the maker -- directly an expressly, not just in terms of the historic and cultural arc that may have lead to a particular object. Forked swords are not mere weapons to a Muslim, but rather a tangible connection, and dare I say tribute, to the Prophet. Close to my heart, the koftgari decoration seen on so many Burmese dha depicts Buddhist lessons or Burmese folk-lore. They are a medium of conveying lessons in religion and in culture.

As Burton said, "the history of the sword is the history of mankind," and to coin a phrase, "the design of the sword is the reflected design of mankind's soul." Sort of pompous-sounding, I'll admist, but it applies to just about any cultural artifact you want to choose.

Mark · 25th July 2005, 03:08 PM

By the way, did you design, and execute, that tsuba just over the last few days? You don't waste any time!

Antonio Cejunior · 25th July 2005, 09:25 PM

Hi Mark,

I feel I'm very fortunate to be in this forum where intelligent things are said in a most urbane and civilized way. This is a fantastic place.

Thank you for your words of encouragement

Easy Rider was a historical movie and I feel some nostalgia when thinking about it. We are really an accumulation of information stored like many windows opened in a computer where we bring them back and forth. They may have different subjects, but they are all displayed in the same type of windows.

Thank you for reminding me about the edged weapon and about the decorative motives. In fact I feel ignorant on the aspects of ethnic design concerning the motivations that gave birth to different designs. I must immerse myself in the anthropology and ethnology books.

My issue here is mainly the way the others see swords. I guess as a Museum man in a small city, I'm a bit concerned, but I always headed into things I believe. One only has to be able to be didactic enough.

Actually the tsuba was done some years ago, hence the review and the description of the numerological readings in my earlier post. It is interesting how thinks work. There are pre-connections, and then suddenly there are connections.

Allow me to tell another experience. My debut as a fashion designer happened in 1990. Before that I spent a wonderful vacation in Morocco and was touched by the wool or was it cotton (?) large overcoats some of the Moroccans wore.
Then I designed this:

based (I was convinced) on those overcoats. I used leather.

Suddenly, some 8 years ago, I jumped from my seat while watching For a Fistfull of Dollars. There was the real root of my design. That huge leather coat Clint Eastwood wore. How we are fooled by ourselves...

Same applies, now for edged weapons, to this Hybrid Tanto
I cannot satisfy myself with apparently purist repetitive things. They have to intersect in cultures, and needless to say where, in this piece.

Oh, thanks for forwarding something for me

Very best,
Antonio

24th July 2005, 04:10 AM	#1
Antonio Cejunior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 294	Hi Andrew, Thank you actually. I wasn't sure I was infringing any rules. My purpose was not that. I'm more interested in sharing the inter connectivity and by the way I wonder if you or any member of this wonderful forum has any information of any fountain pen brand made of steel, be it brushed, damascus, anything. It would really be very enriching to me to find out about that. Andrew, expect a PM and and email in about 10 minutes. The time it takes to write it Thank you, Best Antonio

25th July 2005, 03:07 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Antonio, You are so correct about the inter-connected-ness of things in life and experience. I think it entirely appropriate to discuss the connections between, say a Ducati disc brake and a tsuba on this forum. As you have said, what we perceive as barriers in most cases do not exist at all, as they are just logical constructs. Both the brake and the tsuba, though of course fundamentally functional, go beyond function. There is so much in the realm of edged weapons (not uniquely so, of course, but that is what this forum is all about), that likewise goes far beyond function and into the realm of design, esthetics, history and culture. So often the decorative motifs seen on edged weapons reflect the culture and history of the maker -- directly an expressly, not just in terms of the historic and cultural arc that may have lead to a particular object. Forked swords are not mere weapons to a Muslim, but rather a tangible connection, and dare I say tribute, to the Prophet. Close to my heart, the koftgari decoration seen on so many Burmese dha depicts Buddhist lessons or Burmese folk-lore. They are a medium of conveying lessons in religion and in culture. As Burton said, "the history of the sword is the history of mankind," and to coin a phrase, "the design of the sword is the reflected design of mankind's soul." Sort of pompous-sounding, I'll admist, but it applies to just about any cultural artifact you want to choose.

25th July 2005, 03:08 PM	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	By the way, did you design, and execute, that tsuba just over the last few days? You don't waste any time!

25th July 2005, 09:25 PM	#4
Antonio Cejunior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 294	Hi Mark, I feel I'm very fortunate to be in this forum where intelligent things are said in a most urbane and civilized way. This is a fantastic place. Thank you for your words of encouragement Easy Rider was a historical movie and I feel some nostalgia when thinking about it. We are really an accumulation of information stored like many windows opened in a computer where we bring them back and forth. They may have different subjects, but they are all displayed in the same type of windows. Thank you for reminding me about the edged weapon and about the decorative motives. In fact I feel ignorant on the aspects of ethnic design concerning the motivations that gave birth to different designs. I must immerse myself in the anthropology and ethnology books. My issue here is mainly the way the others see swords. I guess as a Museum man in a small city, I'm a bit concerned, but I always headed into things I believe. One only has to be able to be didactic enough. Actually the tsuba was done some years ago, hence the review and the description of the numerological readings in my earlier post. It is interesting how thinks work. There are pre-connections, and then suddenly there are connections. Allow me to tell another experience. My debut as a fashion designer happened in 1990. Before that I spent a wonderful vacation in Morocco and was touched by the wool or was it cotton (?) large overcoats some of the Moroccans wore. Then I designed this: based (I was convinced) on those overcoats. I used leather. Suddenly, some 8 years ago, I jumped from my seat while watching For a Fistfull of Dollars. There was the real root of my design. That huge leather coat Clint Eastwood wore. How we are fooled by ourselves... Same applies, now for edged weapons, to this Hybrid Tanto I cannot satisfy myself with apparently purist repetitive things. They have to intersect in cultures, and needless to say where, in this piece. Oh, thanks for forwarding something for me Very best, Antonio