Valentino's Collection of Oriental Arms

ariel · 21st May 2007, 09:26 PM

Valentino was a star of "exotic" movies, and often appeared as "sheikh" or suchlike. Probably he either got genuinely fascinated by the "oriental" exotica or just cultivated an "oriental" persona: kind of public relations shtick

Is Johnny Depp collecting Caribbean pirate stuff?

Interesting where all these pieces went....

Tim Simmons · 21st May 2007, 09:36 PM

Ooooh !!! pierce my heart ducky.

Jeff D · 22nd May 2007, 03:45 AM

Oooh... a stab in my side.

I bought this dussage in the late 90's, it was said to be an ex-Valentino. Turns out the blade is old (maybe) but the hilt was E.B Erickson's work that someone artificially aged. Oh well Eljay's work sells for about the same that i paid.

.

All the best.
Jeff

B.I · 22nd May 2007, 12:12 PM

The sale was in 1926, in Hollywood. The collection was seen by the curator of the Met (most likely Bashford Dean) and someone called 'Charles of London', who both remarked of the rarity and importance of some of the pieces. From the listings, it seems he was more a collector, than a passing orientalist during a time when being so was fashionable.
I have a few more images of the European arms, which I will scan and post.

Jim McDougall · 22nd May 2007, 05:51 PM

Hi B.I.
You're right, he probably was more involved than being simply an Orientalist, and most likely acquired under via well informed assistance. Many actors
seriously assimilate into the roles they play, and authentic weapons would have been an ideal vehicle to generate such feeling. I know that personally my entry into collecting antique weapons was borne out of love of history, probably as most of us here, and holding an authentic weapon from a period or even possibly from a certain battle, sent my imagination into overdrive!!

Jeff,
When I knew Eljay in California back in the 70's I was always amazed as his astounding ability in repairing the weapons he would acquire. That grew into his ability to fashion entire hilts, which as noted, are remarkably authentic. He told me once that he always marked or stamped his work so that it would not end up being misrepresented, however, as seen here, some subsequent owners of the work seem to have overridden that effort. As you have noted,
to have one of his pieces is a pleasure in its own right.

All the best,
Jim

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd May 2007, 09:48 PM

Hi BI,
Interesting thread you have started - who would have guessed?
I think there may have been others with the same 'interests', but it is facinating that you have the catalogue

.
Jeff, Interesting piece you show, I wish I could see your collection

- hidden agenda

.
All the best
Jens

Jeff D · 22nd May 2007, 11:14 PM

Hi All,

Thanks Jim, Eljay did email me on where to look for his mark but there is absolutely no sign of it anymore. It woud be interesting if R.V. had a similar sword in his collection? It couldn't have been Eljays work, OR COULD IT! Isn't there a movie about an immortal swordsman?

.

Hi Jens, there is a way to see my collection but it would mean heading west in August

.

All the Best
Jeff

22nd May 2007, 03:45 AM	#3
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Oooh... a stab in my side. I bought this dussage in the late 90's, it was said to be an ex-Valentino. Turns out the blade is old (maybe) but the hilt was E.B Erickson's work that someone artificially aged. Oh well Eljay's work sells for about the same that i paid. . All the best. Jeff Attached Images

22nd May 2007, 09:48 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi BI, Interesting thread you have started - who would have guessed? I think there may have been others with the same 'interests', but it is facinating that you have the catalogue. Jeff, Interesting piece you show, I wish I could see your collection - hidden agenda. All the best Jens

21st May 2007, 09:26 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Valentino was a star of "exotic" movies, and often appeared as "sheikh" or suchlike. Probably he either got genuinely fascinated by the "oriental" exotica or just cultivated an "oriental" persona: kind of public relations shtick Is Johnny Depp collecting Caribbean pirate stuff? Interesting where all these pieces went....

21st May 2007, 09:36 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Ooooh !!! pierce my heart ducky.

22nd May 2007, 12:12 PM	#4
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	The sale was in 1926, in Hollywood. The collection was seen by the curator of the Met (most likely Bashford Dean) and someone called 'Charles of London', who both remarked of the rarity and importance of some of the pieces. From the listings, it seems he was more a collector, than a passing orientalist during a time when being so was fashionable. I have a few more images of the European arms, which I will scan and post.

22nd May 2007, 05:51 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	Hi B.I. You're right, he probably was more involved than being simply an Orientalist, and most likely acquired under via well informed assistance. Many actors seriously assimilate into the roles they play, and authentic weapons would have been an ideal vehicle to generate such feeling. I know that personally my entry into collecting antique weapons was borne out of love of history, probably as most of us here, and holding an authentic weapon from a period or even possibly from a certain battle, sent my imagination into overdrive!! Jeff, When I knew Eljay in California back in the 70's I was always amazed as his astounding ability in repairing the weapons he would acquire. That grew into his ability to fashion entire hilts, which as noted, are remarkably authentic. He told me once that he always marked or stamped his work so that it would not end up being misrepresented, however, as seen here, some subsequent owners of the work seem to have overridden that effort. As you have noted, to have one of his pieces is a pleasure in its own right. All the best, Jim

22nd May 2007, 11:14 PM	#7
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi All, Thanks Jim, Eljay did email me on where to look for his mark but there is absolutely no sign of it anymore. It woud be interesting if R.V. had a similar sword in his collection? It couldn't have been Eljays work, OR COULD IT! Isn't there a movie about an immortal swordsman? . Hi Jens, there is a way to see my collection but it would mean heading west in August . All the Best Jeff