End of an Era - Higgins Armory Museum to close

Lee · 10th March 2013, 04:13 PM

The financial crisis has claimed another victim:

Higgins Integration

The majority of the collection (but, presumably, none of its best items) is being sold with the first large tranche coming under the hammer on March 20 at Thomas Del Mar in London.

Iain · 10th March 2013, 04:23 PM

Very sad to hear. I never had a chance to visit myself but I it certainly had a wonderful reputation. At least some of the collections are being saved and not all is being sold off.

fernando · 10th March 2013, 04:33 PM

One the worst events for arms and armour enthusiasts of this time being period. I can imagine how many, including yourself Lee, become aware of this announcement with the saddest feeling.
I had the privilege to have recently visited this charismatic place.
Let us hope that its best contents will be kept and still in public exhibition in its new residence.

A Senefelder · 10th March 2013, 04:58 PM

I've known about this for several days. I've donated stuff for thier educational program as well as financially over the years. David Nagel's wife ( used to head the educational department ) kidnapped my daughter when she was 4 for most of a day back in the 90's on a visit there and took her on a personal tour. I have friends who teach classes there in various aspects of WMA. This is as sad a day as ever thier was as this invaluable resource announces its closing.

fernando · 10th March 2013, 06:29 PM

For those not familiar with the museum characteristic building.

.

Lee · 23rd April 2013, 07:24 AM

The selection of items from the Higgins performed strongly with many objects exceeding the high estimate several times over.

Similar performance was seen at Bonham's auction of items from the E. A. Christensen collection.

There is nothing like solid, well documented provenance to bring up the price.

fernando · 23rd April 2013, 02:40 PM

Astonishing.
I bet the owner of the Alexandria Arsenal Mamluk sword will comission the making of a chest to keep it safe.

kai · 24th April 2013, 08:28 AM

Hello Lee,

Quote:

The selection of items from the Higgins performed strongly with many objects exceeding the high estimate several times over.

Well, I'd posit that most estimates were classic English understatement or a mere selling strategy to begin with rather than true estimates of current market prices.

Still, there is no doubt that the provenance also encouraged investment bidders and allowed quite a few pieces to perform very strongly.

Regards,
Kai

Gavin Nugent · 24th April 2013, 01:51 PM

I'm just happy I bought something. Apart from the reputation, the long lines of provenance are very interesting and are a rarity to find, something which offers very good insight in to items that are some times hard to date.

Gavin

Lee · 24th April 2013, 05:22 PM

Kai - I'll agree that the auction houses deliberately low ball their estimate ranges to bring more punters in the door. 'English understatement' is a nice euphemism for the practice. I bid on an item in the Christensen sale and was doubtful of my chances even at 2x the high estimate. I was not even the underbidder and it went for 6x.

freebooter - Congratulations; I'll look forward to seeing your new acquisition.

Matchlock · 15th March 2014, 05:55 PM

Hi Lee and all,

Two days ago, I received a notice by the same auction house as before, Thomas Del Mar, that there will be another London sale of contents from the Higgins Armory on May 7 this year.

I cannot tell whether this sale is going to comprise the whole of what used to be 'The Higgins' but in all probability it will. This, I'm afraid, would really mean the end of an era.

I still remember many prices literally going through the roof last year, fetching more than triple of what they would have made without that provenance ...

Michael

Marcus den toom · 15th March 2014, 08:47 PM

I am to young to have seen this amazing museum (to far away), but i share the sad mood

It seems that the ruling power (governments) are more likely to pour money into quicksand than preserving educational significant and historical heritages

10th March 2013, 04:13 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	End of an Era - Higgins Armory Museum to close The financial crisis has claimed another victim: Higgins Integration The majority of the collection (but, presumably, none of its best items) is being sold with the first large tranche coming under the hammer on March 20 at Thomas Del Mar in London.

10th March 2013, 06:29 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	For those not familiar with the museum characteristic building. . Attached Images

23rd April 2013, 07:24 AM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	There is nothing like provenance... The selection of items from the Higgins performed strongly with many objects exceeding the high estimate several times over. Similar performance was seen at Bonham's auction of items from the E. A. Christensen collection. There is nothing like solid, well documented provenance to bring up the price.

24th April 2013, 05:22 PM	#10
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	true Kai - I'll agree that the auction houses deliberately low ball their estimate ranges to bring more punters in the door. 'English understatement' is a nice euphemism for the practice. I bid on an item in the Christensen sale and was doubtful of my chances even at 2x the high estimate. I was not even the underbidder and it went for 6x. freebooter - Congratulations; I'll look forward to seeing your new acquisition.

15th March 2014, 05:55 PM	#11
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Lee and all, Two days ago, I received a notice by the same auction house as before, Thomas Del Mar, that there will be another London sale of contents from the Higgins Armory on May 7 this year. I cannot tell whether this sale is going to comprise the whole of what used to be 'The Higgins' but in all probability it will. This, I'm afraid, would really mean the end of an era. I still remember many prices literally going through the roof last year, fetching more than triple of what they would have made without that provenance ... Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 15th March 2014 at 08:06 PM.

10th March 2013, 04:23 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Very sad to hear. I never had a chance to visit myself but I it certainly had a wonderful reputation. At least some of the collections are being saved and not all is being sold off.

10th March 2013, 04:33 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	One the worst events for arms and armour enthusiasts of this time being period. I can imagine how many, including yourself Lee, become aware of this announcement with the saddest feeling. I had the privilege to have recently visited this charismatic place. Let us hope that its best contents will be kept and still in public exhibition in its new residence.

10th March 2013, 04:58 PM	#4
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	I've known about this for several days. I've donated stuff for thier educational program as well as financially over the years. David Nagel's wife ( used to head the educational department ) kidnapped my daughter when she was 4 for most of a day back in the 90's on a visit there and took her on a personal tour. I have friends who teach classes there in various aspects of WMA. This is as sad a day as ever thier was as this invaluable resource announces its closing.

23rd April 2013, 02:40 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Astonishing. I bet the owner of the Alexandria Arsenal Mamluk sword will comission the making of a chest to keep it safe.

24th April 2013, 01:51 PM	#9
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	I'm just happy I bought something. Apart from the reputation, the long lines of provenance are very interesting and are a rarity to find, something which offers very good insight in to items that are some times hard to date. Gavin

15th March 2014, 08:47 PM	#12
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 525	I am to young to have seen this amazing museum (to far away), but i share the sad mood It seems that the ruling power (governments) are more likely to pour money into quicksand than preserving educational significant and historical heritages