DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COLLECTING

[TVV]

I wish I could come up with a nice theory to justify my collecting addiction, but I think it is just that I never grew up. As my wife points out, when boys get older, the only thing that changes is the price of their toys.
I am in the bottom of the collecting food chain, and I think this is where I will stay regardless of how wealthy I get. I like almost all ethnographic edged weapons and I find it hard to concentrate even on one geographic area, let alone on one type. I have a main area of interest, but for every weapon from this area I acquire, I tend to get two that have nothing to do with it. So generally, I am extremely undisciplinned at my collecting, and whenever I see something well priced on eBay or at an antique shop in Bulgaria (when I am there) I tend to go for it...
And so far I have been unable to figure out upgrading either, as I find it extremely difficult to part with items in my possession, even in cases in which I know they are junk. Unworthy of display, I keep touristy weapons stored somewhere, but cannot force myself to sell them, because of the memories associated with most of them, especially since these touristy weapons got me started on collecting ethnographic arms in the first place. Interestingly enough it only works this way with ethnographic items, as plenty of bayonets passed through my hands and I never developped an affection for any of them.
All these weaknesses mean that I will forever stay at the bottom of the collecting food chain, but I do not have a problem with this - I like it this way.

[joshualayne]

Originally Posted by TVV

I wish I could come up with a nice theory to justify my collecting addiction, but I think it is just that I never grew up. As my wife points out, when boys get older, the only thing that changes is the price of their toys.
I am in the bottom of the collecting food chain, and I think this is where I will stay regardless of how wealthy I get. I like almost all ethnographic edged weapons and I find it hard to concentrate even on one geographic area, let alone on one type.

You know, right up to the liking almost all ethnographic part, I would swear you were reading my mind...

I have too many interests - music, woodworking, computers, etc... so any weapon purchase is always competing against not only other weapons, but other hobbies as well (I blame my vanishing for two years on this).

Also, while I have respect for many sword (and other weapons) making and using traditions, I find there must be something more to draw me in - I have particular aesthetic interests: I love the form of Dhas - they are visually very well balanced, I love most chinese and almost all japanese weapons and some middle-eastern (turkish: yataghan for example), and I am sure my tastes will change as I collect more.

It is funny though - I love the blade of pesh khabz, but I find the handles jarring and too squat somehow and I can say this about a number of styles in that there is an element that I love, but something inconsistent with the overall piece - I know, I know.... they weren't all made to be looked at, but as that is what I will be doing with them, I see them as (primarily at least) art.

I doubt I am the only one out there that collects based on aesthetics foremost (but I think I am the first one to say it in this thread
)

My wife has made the same comment about the cost of my toys I believe....

best,
j.

[Spunjer]

And I wonder what will happen to these pieces when I move on? Sometimes I feel they should go home ...

I would like my pieces to go to people who will love and respect them as I do.

ironic...