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11th July 2016, 06:02 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Some items from Dan Morphy's auction
It just ended.
There were some fantastically interesting pieces that were very poorly described and " undervalued" ( I think on purpose). Nevertheless, astute bidders found them:-) Here is one: kilij presented to some W.B. Barham on September 14, 1933 by Mehmet Ali, Pasha of Egypt. I do not wish to go into long explanation who this Mehmet Ali was, but IMHO it is just like getting a presentation sword from George Washington, Queen Victoria or Napoleon Bonaparte $4000 + 22% premium... I wish I could..... Last edited by ariel; 11th July 2016 at 06:19 PM. |
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11th July 2016, 06:09 PM
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#2 |
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Member
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Mughal Tulwar with enamel, wootz and diamonds(?????)
$27,000 +premium |
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11th July 2016, 06:13 PM
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#3 |
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Member
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Daghestani Khmali.
$2250 + premium |
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11th July 2016, 06:18 PM
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#4 |
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Member
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Indo-Persian Shamshir with enamel ( Lahore?)
$3,750 + ... |
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11th July 2016, 06:20 PM
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#5 |
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And more.....
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11th July 2016, 07:11 PM
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#6 | |
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Member
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Location: Austria
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Quote:
 ... well maybe... I bid for some lots but unfortunately, they moved out of my reach quite quickly. Thank you for sharing the photos! Last edited by mariusgmioc; 11th July 2016 at 09:57 PM. |
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11th July 2016, 09:16 PM
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#7 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
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They could be diamonds, although I think it more likely quartz.
Thanks for these pictures Ariel! 
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11th July 2016, 09:59 PM
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#8 |
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Location: Austria
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Some more I liked...
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12th July 2016, 02:01 AM
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#9 | |
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Location: USA
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Quote:
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12th July 2016, 07:52 AM
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#10 | |
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Quote:
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12th July 2016, 12:02 PM
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#11 |
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There once was a study of auction bidding. Apparently, the real worth of any item is the mean of all bids, from the opening to the final. If this is true, the winner always overplays due to the "feeding frenzy". Indeed, the number of bids on this sword vastly exceeded any other "competition". It was the " in for a penny, in for a pound" situation.
But be it as it may, and despite the fact that there are damages to the enamel and that most gems were lost, such a handle together with the original en suite scabbard are extremely rare. I can see an enthusiastic collector ready to pay a bundle and and a half for it. And, BTW, $32,940 is the winning bid of 27,000 + 5,940 ( 22% commission on Live Auctioneers). The total is "price realized". And yes, it is wootz: look at the left side of the close-up of the blade. It needs good etching, of course. Lahore and Jaipur enamels are extremely valuable, and highly-embellished weapons were obligatory for the uppermost class of Indian nobility. This tulwar was not intended for battle use. Last edited by ariel; 12th July 2016 at 12:18 PM. |
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12th July 2016, 12:27 PM
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#12 |
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Member
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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As to the alleged "lack of knowledge" by the auction, it reminds me of an old joke about a multimillionaire who explains his success:" I buy something for $100, sell it for $1000.. What is my profit? 10%? That's enough for me"
This auction attracted professional collectors and dealers of militaria, and those knew exactly what was for sale and bid against each other. The lowest estimates were just a bait. |
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12th July 2016, 01:40 PM
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#13 | |
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Location: Austria
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Quote:
But you are right when you are talking about bidding frenzy. Anyhow, since it wasn't me placing the winning bid, it's not really my concern whether it was worth it or not, but I still think that is hugely overpriced. 
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12th July 2016, 02:31 PM
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#14 | |
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12th July 2016, 09:19 AM
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#15 | |
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Quote:
What kind of warrior is wearing a sword with blue enamel and diamonds? Is this a sword for a female warrior or a warrior from the other side? Roland |
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12th July 2016, 10:15 AM
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#16 |
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Here is a link to the auction and the sales prices. There were some good deals and some very questionable high prices, the auction house also did not do the sellers any favors with their bad descriptions, tiny images, throwing two or more items such as swords together so you would have to buy one or more items you did not want in order to get the one you wanted, especially mixing unrelated items together like a European sword and an Indo-Persian sword. Several chain armors were crumpled up so you could not see any details, others did not show or describe the links....etc.
https://morphyauctions.hibid.com/cat...rder=2&ipp=100 |
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12th July 2016, 10:19 AM
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#17 | |
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Quote:
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12th July 2016, 10:21 AM
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#18 |
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Location: USA
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$32,940 + commission which brings it close to $40,000, no mention of "diamonds" or gems, or even stones...humm??? Maybe something in the inscription?
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12th July 2016, 10:26 AM
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#19 | |
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Member
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Quote:
You forget that Indians, and many other Easteneers, have different estethical standards than Europeans. So most Indians would love richly coloured and lavishly decorated items that would make an European stare in shock. I wouldn't be surprised if this sword was aquired by a Chinese or Indian millionaire, for whom the mere sky high price would have been enough of an incentive to buy it. PS: And I don't think is even wootz or pattern welded... 
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12th July 2016, 11:30 AM
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#20 |
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Here is a perfect example of the lack of knowledge displayed by this auction house. This is NOT in any way "Indo-Persian" and I do not see any "metal chain".
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