Timonium 2008 in Review

Philip · 18th March 2008, 04:58 AM

Many thanks to our two excellent speakers, Peter Dekker (visiting from the Netherlands, presenting on Qing archery) and our loyal forumite Jose Albovias (aka Battara) doing a lecture/demo on decorative metalwork on Philippine arms. Pity that we missed Artzi's talk on Chinese trousses for two years running, hope he can give it next year.

A good thing was that the pace of the evening was relaxed enough to allow for some lively shmoozing at the table displays. (BTW, the polearms in the pic are not Chinese, but are instead some pretty rare and fine Vietnamese examples brought by Nick Wardigo along with two very interesting rattan hats/helmets worn by troops of the Nguyen Dynasty).

I had suggested that the added free time be used for a "half time show" but the gent whose talent I had in mind (doing the Zulu war dance) demurred since he didn't bring the requisite costume and weaponry.

A cloud over the evening was the smallest attendance to date. Don't know if the auction across the aisle had anything to do with it, I don't intend to point fingers but we did have a few show attendees who inquired with us as things were being set up, but who opted for the sale instead. Mark launched a discussion about the seminar's future -- perhaps a rotating venue divorced from the Baltimore show, in various cities year-by-year so that members in diverse geographical areas can more conveniently attend. Perhaps use it to launch a show especially dedicated to ethno arms -- scholarship and horsetrading combined. We wrapped it up by agreeing to mull it over, and present it on this Forum for suggestions and comments by the membership at large. This program is just too good to let go down the tubes !!!

Flavio · 18th March 2008, 10:18 AM

Thank you Lew

P.S. who is the lucky owner of that fantastic mandaya sword in the last photo (if I am correct

) ?

Mark · 18th March 2008, 04:25 PM

I'm glad you were taking pictures, Lew. I forgot my camera this year.

I've been meaning to do a page on past shows for Lee to put somewhere on vikingsword.com, but being me, I let such things get pushed aside all too easily. If anyone has photos, please send them to me and I promise that I will get it done this year!

Flavio - the Manday is Jose's (lucky devil).

All of the displayed items were beautiful, as usual. I didn't have time to complement you on the polish & etch jobs on your gunang, Steve, which I understand you did yourself. Excellent work.

I picked up a nice story dha from Avner, which I have been eyeing for a while. It is unusual in having niello worked into the ferrule and pommel. I am in the process of correcting a sloppy repair done sometime in its distant past, but I'll post some pics when it is done. I also won a nice dha at the auction, but wasn't able to pick it up immediately because my bid hadn't been registered for some reason and they had to sort out the paperwork. However, Oliver has been very quick and professional in sorting out the mix-up. I must say that dispite my annoyance at it having been planned at the same time and place as the seminar, it was a very good and well-run auction. Its hard to say if it drew a significant number of people away from the talk - there were a couple of walk-ins for us, and several people circulated between the two events as lots of interest came up. I understand that next year it won't be scheduled to conflict with the seminar.

BTW, when did it finally end? I left at around 11:30pm, and they were somewhere in the low 300's, with just over 400 lots total in the auction. A long night.

Ferguson · 19th March 2008, 11:13 AM

This was only my second year in attendance and I was blown away by the comraderie and the knowledge in that room. Excellent presentations by Peter and Jose! It was a pleasure to display some of my pieces to folks who understand and appreciate them. Phillip answered my question about how the smith made the horsetooth pattern in the blade of my gunong!

The food was great, and the facilities were top notch.

Much thanks to Artzi and Avner for providing us this wonderful evening.

Steve

rand · 19th March 2008, 02:26 PM

The Timonium gathering on Saturday evening was a great pleasure and one of the main factors in my decision to attend the Baltimore show for the first time. Only wish I had more time prior to the talks to visit with other collectors and had been able to use Friday evening also.

Both lectures given were well researched and the presentation kept your attention all the way through.

rand

Battara · 25th March 2008, 01:35 AM

Thank you for the kind feedback. I had fun presenting.

And I must admit I have never seen so many gunong in my life like what Steve displayed.

Spunjer · 27th December 2008, 05:56 PM

reviving an old thread after reading mark's thread about the upcoming show for 2009...

never been to timonium show, but i notice other than vendors, there seems to be quite a few displays being presented. my question is are these displays judged, and if they are, what are the prizes? seems to me those displays featured in this thread woulda won something. they're elegant!

18th March 2008, 04:58 AM	#1
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	A good time had by all / thoughts about our future Many thanks to our two excellent speakers, Peter Dekker (visiting from the Netherlands, presenting on Qing archery) and our loyal forumite Jose Albovias (aka Battara) doing a lecture/demo on decorative metalwork on Philippine arms. Pity that we missed Artzi's talk on Chinese trousses for two years running, hope he can give it next year. A good thing was that the pace of the evening was relaxed enough to allow for some lively shmoozing at the table displays. (BTW, the polearms in the pic are not Chinese, but are instead some pretty rare and fine Vietnamese examples brought by Nick Wardigo along with two very interesting rattan hats/helmets worn by troops of the Nguyen Dynasty). I had suggested that the added free time be used for a "half time show" but the gent whose talent I had in mind (doing the Zulu war dance) demurred since he didn't bring the requisite costume and weaponry. A cloud over the evening was the smallest attendance to date. Don't know if the auction across the aisle had anything to do with it, I don't intend to point fingers but we did have a few show attendees who inquired with us as things were being set up, but who opted for the sale instead. Mark launched a discussion about the seminar's future -- perhaps a rotating venue divorced from the Baltimore show, in various cities year-by-year so that members in diverse geographical areas can more conveniently attend. Perhaps use it to launch a show especially dedicated to ethno arms -- scholarship and horsetrading combined. We wrapped it up by agreeing to mull it over, and present it on this Forum for suggestions and comments by the membership at large. This program is just too good to let go down the tubes !!!

18th March 2008, 10:18 AM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Thank you Lew P.S. who is the lucky owner of that fantastic mandaya sword in the last photo (if I am correct ) ? Last edited by Flavio; 18th March 2008 at 11:54 AM.

19th March 2008, 02:26 PM	#5
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Timonium The Timonium gathering on Saturday evening was a great pleasure and one of the main factors in my decision to attend the Baltimore show for the first time. Only wish I had more time prior to the talks to visit with other collectors and had been able to use Friday evening also. Both lectures given were well researched and the presentation kept your attention all the way through. rand

18th March 2008, 04:25 PM	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I'm glad you were taking pictures, Lew. I forgot my camera this year. I've been meaning to do a page on past shows for Lee to put somewhere on vikingsword.com, but being me, I let such things get pushed aside all too easily. If anyone has photos, please send them to me and I promise that I will get it done this year! Flavio - the Manday is Jose's (lucky devil). All of the displayed items were beautiful, as usual. I didn't have time to complement you on the polish & etch jobs on your gunang, Steve, which I understand you did yourself. Excellent work. I picked up a nice story dha from Avner, which I have been eyeing for a while. It is unusual in having niello worked into the ferrule and pommel. I am in the process of correcting a sloppy repair done sometime in its distant past, but I'll post some pics when it is done. I also won a nice dha at the auction, but wasn't able to pick it up immediately because my bid hadn't been registered for some reason and they had to sort out the paperwork. However, Oliver has been very quick and professional in sorting out the mix-up. I must say that dispite my annoyance at it having been planned at the same time and place as the seminar, it was a very good and well-run auction. Its hard to say if it drew a significant number of people away from the talk - there were a couple of walk-ins for us, and several people circulated between the two events as lots of interest came up. I understand that next year it won't be scheduled to conflict with the seminar. BTW, when did it finally end? I left at around 11:30pm, and they were somewhere in the low 300's, with just over 400 lots total in the auction. A long night.

19th March 2008, 11:13 AM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	This was only my second year in attendance and I was blown away by the comraderie and the knowledge in that room. Excellent presentations by Peter and Jose! It was a pleasure to display some of my pieces to folks who understand and appreciate them. Phillip answered my question about how the smith made the horsetooth pattern in the blade of my gunong! The food was great, and the facilities were top notch. Much thanks to Artzi and Avner for providing us this wonderful evening. Steve

25th March 2008, 01:35 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Thank you for the kind feedback. I had fun presenting. And I must admit I have never seen so many gunong in my life like what Steve displayed.

27th December 2008, 05:56 PM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	reviving an old thread after reading mark's thread about the upcoming show for 2009... never been to timonium show, but i notice other than vendors, there seems to be quite a few displays being presented. my question is are these displays judged, and if they are, what are the prizes? seems to me those displays featured in this thread woulda won something. they're elegant!