Valentino's Collection of Oriental Arms

B.I · 21st May 2007, 07:11 PM

I have the auction catalogue of the sale of Valentinos estate after his death in the mid 1920s. His collection of arms consisted of a couple of hundred lots (from memory, I dont have it in front of me). Many of these were Oriental, as he had a personal passion of Orientalism (hence the full size oil painting of himself in costume). Unfortunately, only a few were photographed in the catalogue. I have a few more images, which I will scan in later. His house was called 'Falcons Lair' and it was here that he housed his collection. Images are poor unfortunately, but am sure many of his pieces found their way onto the open market, with all provenance now lost.

Battara · 21st May 2007, 07:27 PM

Interesting - didn't know he was interested........Is there a catalog somewhere?

B.I · 21st May 2007, 07:48 PM

Unfortunately not. Only the original 1920s auction catalogue which lists each item, but with only a small handful of images (not much more than I have already shown).
Shame as his collection (European as well as Oriental) was fairly extensive.
This catalogue also lists his properties (inc the Falcons Lair), his horses, hunting dogs, art, film costmes etc.

Jim McDougall · 21st May 2007, 09:56 PM

Hi B.I.
Thats fantastic! and not at all surprising with his presence in portraying exotic characters. Southern California in those early years with the beginnings of the movie industry actually stockpiled tons of props, costumes and weaponry, much of it actually authentic. I recall in the late 60's that some weapons collectors hit the jackpot when some of the movie studios unloaded some of the heaps of these weapons held in boxes in prop departments. I'm sure that Valentino got his pick of many of these.
Best regards,
Jim

ariel · 21st May 2007, 10:26 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, 10:36 PM

Ooooh !!! pierce my heart ducky.

21st May 2007, 07:11 PM	#1
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	Valentino's Collection of Oriental Arms I have the auction catalogue of the sale of Valentinos estate after his death in the mid 1920s. His collection of arms consisted of a couple of hundred lots (from memory, I dont have it in front of me). Many of these were Oriental, as he had a personal passion of Orientalism (hence the full size oil painting of himself in costume). Unfortunately, only a few were photographed in the catalogue. I have a few more images, which I will scan in later. His house was called 'Falcons Lair' and it was here that he housed his collection. Images are poor unfortunately, but am sure many of his pieces found their way onto the open market, with all provenance now lost. Attached Images

21st May 2007, 07:27 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Interesting - didn't know he was interested........Is there a catalog somewhere?

21st May 2007, 07:48 PM	#3
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	Unfortunately not. Only the original 1920s auction catalogue which lists each item, but with only a small handful of images (not much more than I have already shown). Shame as his collection (European as well as Oriental) was fairly extensive. This catalogue also lists his properties (inc the Falcons Lair), his horses, hunting dogs, art, film costmes etc.

21st May 2007, 09:56 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,955	Hi B.I. Thats fantastic! and not at all surprising with his presence in portraying exotic characters. Southern California in those early years with the beginnings of the movie industry actually stockpiled tons of props, costumes and weaponry, much of it actually authentic. I recall in the late 60's that some weapons collectors hit the jackpot when some of the movie studios unloaded some of the heaps of these weapons held in boxes in prop departments. I'm sure that Valentino got his pick of many of these. Best regards, Jim

21st May 2007, 10:26 PM	#5
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, 10:36 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Ooooh !!! pierce my heart ducky.