Weapons display 'themes'

[M ELEY]

I know we have discussed display racks, holders and cases over the years, but I wasn't sure if we had touched on so called 'theme' background ephemera supporting the type sword, sword history, country of origin, etc. In other words, for a medieval swords collection, perhaps family crests, banners, goblets, etc. For an African collection, perhaps leather shields or trophy animal heads, etc, etc. I believe there accouterments accentuate and highlight a collection, bringing out the whole historical (and possibly cultural) aspects.

Here are some pics of my pirate/privateer/maritime collection. The weapons are all real, as are many of the items. That being said, the gems and coins, 'old maps' and broadsides are for looks. And yes, the skull is also only a prop-

[M ELEY]

I've added some pieces to my collection that the average onlooker might not understand, such as the blue white china Imari dish (18th c.). Believe it or not, many pieces of Chinese/Japanese porcelain was found on European shipwrecks and pirate vessels...

[M ELEY]

Pewter items dating to the Age of Sail, along with Revolutionary War era items, such as the powder keg, tell a story about the items.

[drdavid]

Very cool

[M ELEY]

Thanks, drdavid!

[shayde78]

Good stuff!
Thanks for sharing

[fernando]

Excelent scenario, Captain. Time to buy a new camera and add the present one to your nice age of sail collection .

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

A great way to display maritime items is against a backdrop of an old map/ seachart either under glass on a desktop or on the wall behind.

[M ELEY]

Fernando, I agree. I've had it with the cheapo camera and will upgrade, perhaps you would like to send me one as a Christmas present?!

Ibrahiim, I agree. I've had my eye on a real (versus the repro and modern maps) sea chart at the same art dealer that I bought the dog lock musket from. I was hoping others might show their weapons display themes. Come on, guys. You know you want to!

Cathey always does a brilliant Victorian Christmas theme that looks just like what you would expect an English gentleman's study c. 19th c. to look like. Can't wait to see what she'll have for us this year!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=22184

[Jim McDougall]

Hey Cap'n Mark,
Consider my timbers shivered!!! These are fantastic displays and BTW, and your photos really capture the essence of your stuff!!!! It is easy to see how you write so well of 'the Brethren' as you are pretty much living in the context.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" move over, 'Pirate Straits' rocks!!!

Thank you for sharing this!!!!

[Pukka Bundook]

Originally Posted by fernando

Excelent scenario, Captain. Time to buy a new camera and add the present one to your nice age of sail collection .

Indeed , Fernando!!

Very nicely done Mark. It is something that always seemed logical to me.
Now, shake out a reef and get that camera!

[M ELEY]

Thank you Jim, Richard, and Fernando for your comments. Jim, I can always get you with a pirate theme, my commodore! Yes, gents, I will dump the old camera and get something better. soon!

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... I will dump the old camera and get something better. soon!

Ah, don't make up your mind before considering this local promotion ...


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[fernando]

Jokes apart Mark, it takes some willpower to collect things in a thematic manner. When i started with coins, within a blink of an eye i found myself dealing with the most unrelated bundle of specimens that one can imagine. So i got rid of coins and went into old weapons; suddenly all types, not just one theme. Glad i got rid of the Ethnos but still, a hole mess of a collection; to call it eclectic would be far too presumptious. Meaning that, if i tried to set up a thematic display, i would have to revolve the all current disposition and chose among a thousand curious kept in cabinets to get at something like a ... would be theme display .

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Mark!!! All photography stuff aside, all I see is how amazing your themes and displays are, and as I say, I can see how your novels have such dimension as you really SEE these amazing items of nautical history in your words.
I guess that's why I'm not too observant when it comes to photos here

Personally, I'm about as adept with a camera as I am with this magic box and my Fisher-Price keyboard!

[M ELEY]

Thank you, gentlemen. I'm actually having better luck taking pics with my wife's cellphone, so perhaps my skills will soon improve! Fernando, I still bet you could shoot a few pics of your rapiers (of which you have greats!) positioned just so with an old fencing/dueling manual, etc, etc. In any case, I do see your point when it comes to broader collections. I also started out broad, sold off my ethno pieces and suddenly aimed for the maritime stuff. Luckily, with early naval, as Jim has pointed out before, you get a lot of leeway!

[fernando]

Well Captain ... you've asked for it .
You may take a pick, i mean, pick a theme. If you manage to set one up, you may take the dog (Serafim) for free .


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[fernando]

And ...


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[M ELEY]

Oh my heavenly God!!!

Fernando, I am blown away to see your collection (and theme)fully displayed like this!! We have discussed pieces of your collection over time, but to see it all together like this is spectacular! Perfect nuances of tapestries, sundry items, navigational tools, paintings, etc, etc. You were holding out on us, my friend! And to think you said you didn't have a theme- I get a real Don Quixote feel here. I know, wrong time period, but the collection is like looking back on a Spanish/Portuguese time capsule! I especially like the subtlety of the dog, being of course, either a 'sea dog' or a 'dog of war'-

I didn't realize you had some trench spears, pikes and that cruel looking hook/pick in your collection! Astounding and thanks for taking the time to post them!

[fernando]

Thank you for the kind words, Captain.
And yes, the dog descends from a breed of buccaneer hounds .