Phil. items in London, Paris, & Berlin museums?
 

Hello all! I need some help, please :) Would anybody know whether there's a museum in London that has Phil. edged weapons? (I'll be there next week).

For instance, would the Victoria & Albert Museum have those, given its vast collection?

Then the week after next, I'll be in Paris and will visit Musée du quai Branly which has many Phil. items (pics att.), like these Palawan badung, Moro barungs, Moro kampilans, Moro krises, Moro armors, Moro shields, Lumad shields, Lumad armor, and many others.

Actually I'm not sure yet whether said French museum will allow me to take a look at those items, given that they appear to be in storage. But I already sent them a letter-request.

But in case there are other French museums which might have Phil. blades, then I hope somebody can post here the location/s.

After Paris, it's Amsterdam & Leiden and I already know where to go (thanks again to Arjan). Then after, it's Berlin -- would anybody know whether there's a museum there by any chance that has Phil. or Southeast Asian ethnic weapons?

And I do hope that my wife will not see this post, otherwise my hidden agenda will be exposed prematurely, and she might torpedo this Europe vacation of ours ;)

I think your wife is already anticipating your agenda, hahahaha!

The Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford is a must....

@nonoy, haha. methinks now you also have tried it before, only to crash and burn ;) levity aside, any cordillera item i'll stumble upon will surely come your way.

@colin, many thanks for the tip! will surely check it out. thanks again :)

lorenz

Hi lorenz
all ethnographic museums in Paris or suburbs were grouped into a single one, these of the "Quai Branly"
if the museum responds to your request, you will be a very lucky person,
unfortunately in France ... those in charge of administration, are not often very available,
unless you are well introduced by influential persons ...
otherwise, if you may bring the prove that, it's a need, to carry out an academic work,
as part of studies or the support for a thesis, with the goal of a Ph.D. ...
I'm very sorry, and I'm shame to don't be very optimistic :o

tomorrow I gonna call them, to know, if they are answering to such special requests,
and if you'll be or not allowed to take pictures ... I think ... yes for the second point
there is not long time ago, I went for an exhibition of Arab Bedouin robes of the Middle East,
and I took all pictures as I wished, with and without flash

when do you expect to be in Paris precisely ? ... may be we'll have the opportunity to meet us, but ....
we'll be absent from mid-September to end December ... we'll be in Egypt :shrug:

no worry, there is a solution ;)
during your museums visit, my wife could take care of your spouse, and take her in stores ...
not those for tourists ... where they'll empty her wallet for nothing ... but where she knows where it's the cheapest,
and then together you will find yourself at home over tea, or something else
if your dates coincide with ours :D

all the best

à +

Dom

ps/my data by private message

Hi Dom! Wow, super ... merci beaucoup!

Thanks for all the tips, assistance, and invitation. Much appreciated indeed! I feel better already :)

Yes, it looks like the museum would be unable to reply to our letter-request. Actually, it was even written in French, and signed by a retired Filipino professor (Dr. Zeus Salazar, and he's the one mentoring me, in the study of the ethnic weapons of our islands) who got his PhD in Sorbonne with flying colors. But so far, no answer still. Hence, I truly appreciate very much your plan to make the call. Many thanks in advance (regardless of the outcome). I can also send you by PM our letter in case that would somehow help in the follow-up to the museum.

We will be arrive in Paris from London, on the morning of Aug. 28 (Tue.). Then we go to Amsterdam on Aug. 31 (Fri.). Thus we are definitely free starting the afternoon of Aug. 28, and the whole days of Aug. 29 & 30. We will be traveling with our eldest daughter by the way (she's 24 years old).

Which leads us to the [off-topic] of shopping -- my wife and daughter would be ecstatic if the plan that your dear wife and them can get together! I'll just send by PM the other details.

That idea of yours is surely a Solomonic approach -- the men and the women can go off on their respective merry ways.

Aside from visiting the museum, I surely look forward with anticipation to meeting you in person, assuming the schedules would match. Am surely hoping it will.

Best wishes!

Lorenz

Lorenz, you may want to consider The Museum of Ethnology at Dresden. It should have specimens that were collected during the last quarter of 19th century Philippines.

Lorenz, I forgot to mention...

Inform the Musée du quai Branly that you are a collector from the Philippines. That might get their attention as those guys have been scouting for specimens to borrow from collectors based in the Philippines (for an exhibit they are preparing).

Thanks Nonoy ;)
I am working on ... :p
today, I came into contact with them, and I'll help Lorenz as far as I may

in the meantime,
here's a link to enter virtually in the collections "Filipino" of "Quai Branly" museum
http://www.quaibranly.fr/cc/pod/resultats.aspx?b=1&t=2
sorry, if the page is in French ... :shrug:

I saw, that we've in display, the integrability of the collection included for items from Philippines,
and more specially, the items who are not exhibited
all the best

à +

Dom

Nonoy, many thanks for the tip! You continue to amaze me :) But we have very little time in Berlin -- hence I have to figure out how to get to Dresden and back to Berlin within the same day. Thanks very much for the lead!

This is one avenue to explore for sure. But my problem is that our email to the museum apparently did not reach them. So the contact has not been established yet. But Dom is trying his best to make the connection on our behalf. Thanks again, Nonoy.

Many thanks, Dom. And I just PM'd you our letter-request to the museum, and the attachment of the email which is written in French and signed by the Sorbonne alumnus. Appreciate very much your kind assistance!

Lorenz

While in London, I'd be sure to check out the British Museum; as I recall they have a few Filipino things on display here and there. And I'll second the suggestion of a day trip over to Oxford for the Pitt Rivers Museum. There are also a few items displayed at the Royal Armouries if you have the time for a day trip to Leeds.

Hi Lorenz,

While at the British Museum, you might be interested in finding out what other stuff (aside from rare books and documents) the British took from the Philippines when they ransacked Manila during the 1760s. As far as I know, there is no documentation or inventory of these items. I would not be surprised if they also took some art works and pieces of expensive weaponry.

While you are in town, not that far from the British Museum- walking distance {to me anyway} is the Wallace Collection. Just off Oxford Street at C&A. Knights in armour and a large Asian collection. I do not remember Phil stuff. India and Persia were more of interest to the British gentry.

Lee, Tim, Nonoy, great! :) Many thanks!!

sorry to everybody,
I just realized that I gave a link who is not good
in fact, it is not transferable, so for Lorenz, I have prepared a tutorial
Here it is, for those are interested
thanks for your understanding

to reach the "Quai Branly" collections by internet (not easy ..) I found the pathway
(English version doesn't play) here a tutorial
in the menu of the presentation page, http://www.quaibranly.fr/ ... click on
=> BASE DE DONNÉES then from the scrolling menu, click
=> LE CATALOGUE DES OBJETS, choose "SIMPLE"
at right, the chapter "LE CATALOGUE DES OBJETS" is open,
choose, in; "SÉLECTIONNER UN GROUPE D'OBJETS"
=> COLLECTION DES OBJETS,
then, a little bit down,
=> SÉLECTIONNER UN CRITÈRE DE RECHERCHE, from there
you leave as it is; TOUS LES CRITÈRES DE RECHERCHES, then, the next at right you enter in FRENCH language (stupid site doesn't understand english request)
=> ASIE
and click on "LANCER LA RECHERCHE"
a new page open's, and you have a choise, with several continents mentionned, included
- Asie(71103) ... items
- Océanie(92) ... items
after have clicked on "Asie", you will open an other sub-chapter
- Asie centrale(505)
- Asie orientale(12309)
- Asie méridionale(19393)
- Asie du sud-est(28941)
- Asie occidentale(5366)
- Géographie physique et culturelle(3632)
- Asie septentrionale(1980)


I very, very disappointed, because I know Lorenz received a negative response from museum to gain access to reserves
- request receives too late
- holidays of the museum staff
has been the main arguments

à +

Dom

Thanks, Dom. You are selfless.

Do let me and Lorenz know if you will be visiting the Philippines, so we can bring you around.

Nonoy

Thanks a lot Nonoy :D
in my live, I have found, some selfless persons on my way, who have help me at that time
now, I'm just doing, to return the favor (send back the "lift", as said in French :p )

no forecasting yet ... to visit your beautiful country, only God knows what tomorrow will be
at the opportune time, I'll let you know, my Friends, and thanks for offer me an hand up. ;)

best regards

à +

Dom

IN PARIS THERE IS AN ( AFRICAN AND OCEANIC MUSEUM) IT HAS QUITE A FEW WEAPONS BUT I DON'T KNOW IF PHILIPPINE WEAPONS ARE INCLUDED BUT THEY OFTEN ARE INCLUDED IN OCEANIC ITEMS. THE MUSEUM IS A BIT OFF THE TOURIST TRAILS BUT IS A NICE ONE.
YOU MENTIONED AMSTERDAM. OUTSIDE OF AMESTERDAN ON THE WAY TO GERMANY IS THE KROLLER MUELLER MUSEUM IT HAS AN ART MUSEM AS WELL AS A SEPARATE ARMS MUSEUM NOT SURE IF ANY PHILIPPINE ITEMS ARE ON HAND BUT THE COLLECTIONS ARE FIRST RATE.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP AND GOOD LUCK ON GAINING ACCESS TO WHAT YOU SEEK. :)
NEAR STRATFORD UPON THE AVON, ENGLAND IS WARWIK AND WARWIK CASTLE IT IS SORT OF A MUSEUM WITH LOTS OF WEAPONS, NO PHILIPPINE ITEMS BUT A COOL PLACE WITH A VERY CREEPY DUNGEON AS WELL AS TOWER WITH ITS OWN GHOST. THERE SHOULD BE SOME PICTURES OF THE CASTLE IN OLD FORUM POSTS.

Dom, you are indeed super. Bless your heart! :)

Nonoy, yes it will be a pleasure and a great privilege to welcome Dom to our shores. Hope he drops by soon.

Barry, sir thanks very much for those tips! Will surely look for those places. But I think nothing will beat the 'Vandoo Museum' in which I had the rare privilege of seeing earlier ;)

Good day VANDOO
you'll have to put up to date your informations, my Dear friend :D

since 2004, the Quai Branly Museum's collections, brings together the old ethnological collections of the museums;
- "Musée de l’Homme"
and those of
- Musée National des arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie.

The transfert of ethnographic collections to "Musée du Quai Branly" have been ended on September 30, 2004

long time you didn't visit Paris, you have to come back :p

regards

à +

Dom

TOO TRUE ITS BEEN TOO LONG SINCE I SPENT SOME TIME IN PARIS. I HAVE TRANSITED THRU A FEW TIMES SINCE MY LAST STAY BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STOP OFF. ITS GOOD TO KNOW THEY HAVE UPDATED AND CONSOLIDATED THOSE MUSEUMS. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE I WOULD HAVE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING THE MUSEUM UNDER ITS OLD NAME.
I HOPE THEY NEVER UPDATE THEIR NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM WITH ALL THE DINOSAURS AND FOSSILS I LIKE THE OLD STYLE MUSEUMS WITH BONES EVERWHERE VERSUS THOSE WITH JUST A FEW LARGE SPECIMINS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER MUSEUMS HAVE. I PERSONALLY THINK MORE IS BETTER AND THAT VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE AND THAT GOES FOR MUSEUMS TOO. :D

don't be worry VANDOO, even if this "natural history museum" have been completely refurbished ... BUT
refurbished in a way that it is identical as the former;
- the huge glass-roof has been restored, that gives, a plenty natural day light
- all the collections of dinosaurs and other charming skeletons, are in their former location, indeed fossiles & Co.
type in French as following
- musée d'histoire naturelle Paris
in "http://images.google.com/"
you will not believe your eyes, you will see the same museum you've experienced, but clear and clean
what you need to do now is to come back to Paris, you'll realize for yourself
you'll be pleasantly surprised, I'm sure

all the best

à +

Dom

it turns out that pitt rivers (museum) in oxford has a very nice online database. here's some pics of phil. stuff that's in there:

some more pics:

Lorenz, as I have nothing to contribute, THANK YOU for showing these images!

Kind Regards,
Maurice

A FORUMITE IN VISIT THOUGH PARIS - FRANCE
 

our friend Lorenz Lasco "migueldiaz", in full action, at the Ethnographic Museum in Paris
two pictures, front to the show window on the Philippines (the two first)
no tricks ... I was a witness :p

à +

Dom

Maurice, thanks too!

Dom, mon ami extraordinaire! :) haha, thanks for those pics. And thanks for 'Part 2' which is a briefing about Arab weapons in your most beautiful house, including access to your nice library... and not to mention feasting on the best food and wine in Paris :) Indeed a man couldn't ask for more!

To all -- I'll post pics later (plus links to hundreds of pics) I took at Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford (a billion thanks, too, for the most kind gentleman who arranged the access, and he knows who he is), plus the pics in British Museum (mostly Indonesian), the Wallace Collection in London (mostly Arab and Indian, on top of the usual European arms), plus some South/Southeast Asia items in the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), and a lantaka I found in Windsor Castle (which has a documentation on when and where it was captured).

Thanks again to all.

This is one of the reasons I love this forum .
I'm so glad to see connections like this made between fellow members . :)

Now I know what you look like Lorenz............

were you allowed to take pictures? Many museums i visited do not allow pictures. like in Taiwan when I visited the formosa aborigines museums... :(

Amen!, Rick. Thanks.

Jose, I can reassure you that I'm more handsome in real life :D ;)

Apolaki, most of them, if not all as I recall, allow picture taking. But if the photos refer to items that are in storage, then a special permission has to be made.

Regarding the matter, I'm yet to arrange with Pitt Rivers Museum the posting of some of the pics I took at their storage facility (sample below). For instance there's this ancient-looking twist core kris (see below) in which more insights about it will surface for sure, once examined by the experts in this forum ...

PS - On photo taking in museums, I got an insider tip about it -- a curator in a local (Cebu) museum told me that the sole reason why they don't allow it is so that the flow of people amongst the various items on display will be faster! In fact the only museum I recall that don't allow picture taking of items on display is Museo del Ejercito in Toledo, Spain.