Valentino's Collection of Oriental Arms

B.I · 23rd May 2007, 12:17 AM

Jeff,
There were 91 lots of arms (not a couple of hundred, as my memory falsley served) and none of them fit your sword. The descriptions are pretty thorough, and the sale was directly after his death, and included what seemed to be all of his possessions.
Jim,
I dont think RV was alone. Cant remember the actors name (not Thief of Baghdad, but something similar??) but he owned three of the most important Oriental swords that have ever hit the market. Three Sulyaman swords of outstanding, world class quality that rocked the collecting world when they appeared un-photographed in an obscure Los Angeles sale. The lesser of the three is now in the Met, and is one of their most important finds.
Pretty much what we all dream of finding one day
Jens,
Yes, obscure, even for me. Was tipped off a few years back about him, and chased the lead down until I found someone with the catalogue. Always worth following through as you never know what you can find!

EDIT -
Jim - Rex Ingram!!!!
Was annoyingly at the tip of my tongue! He aquired them from TE Lawrence. Stunning pieces!

Jeff D · 23rd May 2007, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.I

Jeff,
There were 91 lots of arms (not a couple of hundred, as my memory falsley served) and none of them fit your sword.

Thanks B.I. ,
I guess Eljay isn't "the one"

All the best and I look forward to any other scans.
Jeff

Jim McDougall · 23rd May 2007, 04:24 PM

Hi Jeff,
LOL!

Eljay is an incredible craftsman, but immortal? I will tell you that he and I met under extraordinary circumstances and years later again, in much the same way. It is truly a much smaller world than we realize.

Thanks B.I. for thinking of the name! It would have driven me nuts

I kept thinking of Ronald Coleman or Douglas Fairbanks, or even Basil Rathbone. These swashbucklers were all outstanding swordsmen, especially Rathbone who was a master, and hated having to lose since he was always the villain.

In one of the photos, a sabre that appears to be a kilij, looks like one of those coral covered pieces from the Maghreb.

Thank you for sharing this interesting catalog and discussion, sure brings back lots of earlier memories from California.....wish I would have started collecting earlier, even the 60s was pretty late.

All the best,
Jim

B.I · 24th May 2007, 08:41 AM

This is the last of the images.

23rd May 2007, 12:17 AM	#1
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	Jeff, There were 91 lots of arms (not a couple of hundred, as my memory falsley served) and none of them fit your sword. The descriptions are pretty thorough, and the sale was directly after his death, and included what seemed to be all of his possessions. Jim, I dont think RV was alone. Cant remember the actors name (not Thief of Baghdad, but something similar??) but he owned three of the most important Oriental swords that have ever hit the market. Three Sulyaman swords of outstanding, world class quality that rocked the collecting world when they appeared un-photographed in an obscure Los Angeles sale. The lesser of the three is now in the Met, and is one of their most important finds. Pretty much what we all dream of finding one day Jens, Yes, obscure, even for me. Was tipped off a few years back about him, and chased the lead down until I found someone with the catalogue. Always worth following through as you never know what you can find! EDIT - Jim - Rex Ingram!!!! Was annoyingly at the tip of my tongue! He aquired them from TE Lawrence. Stunning pieces! Last edited by B.I; 23rd May 2007 at 12:35 AM.

24th May 2007, 08:41 AM	#4
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	This is the last of the images. Attached Images

23rd May 2007, 04:24 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Hi Jeff, LOL! Eljay is an incredible craftsman, but immortal? I will tell you that he and I met under extraordinary circumstances and years later again, in much the same way. It is truly a much smaller world than we realize. Thanks B.I. for thinking of the name! It would have driven me nuts I kept thinking of Ronald Coleman or Douglas Fairbanks, or even Basil Rathbone. These swashbucklers were all outstanding swordsmen, especially Rathbone who was a master, and hated having to lose since he was always the villain. In one of the photos, a sabre that appears to be a kilij, looks like one of those coral covered pieces from the Maghreb. Thank you for sharing this interesting catalog and discussion, sure brings back lots of earlier memories from California.....wish I would have started collecting earlier, even the 60s was pretty late. All the best, Jim