New Guy In Search Of Wisdom
Apr 16, 2013 22:55:23 GMT
Post by HollowPoint on Apr 16, 2013 22:55:23 GMT
Greetings everyone:
I'm not really a collector or a sword buyer but, I do own one sword that to the best of my knowledge is some sort or rarity.
My reason for posting on this forum is to try to get some guidance as to how to go about authenticating my particular sword.
I was given this sword when I was sixteen years old. Only with the growth of the internet have I been able to do any kind of informal research on my own; trying to learn as much as I can about this sword I've eluded to.
Just recently I sent off an email to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York because I stumbled upon a similar looking sword and sheath in someone else's collection. It was pure luck that I stumbled onto it.
If you don't mind, I'll post the same email text here and it should bring you all up to date with where I'm at in my search for knowledge about this sword.
Right now all I'm looking for is knowledge about the origins of this sword. Also; if possible I'd like to confirm the story that's attached to this sword and any value it may have.
I do plan to inquire in some of the other "Sword-Related" forums. I'm sure someone on this planet with interest in swords and access to the internet is bound to have some answers for me.
Thanks in advance to any who may be able to steer me in the right direction.
HollowPoint
" Greetings from Arizona:
I'm hoping you can steer me in the right direction.
As a kid, my mother used to be a house keeper for some rather wealthy folks that lived in Scottsdale, Arizona. She'd worked for them for such a long time that they considered our family a part of their family.
The man of the house, George Metz, was an author and a world traveler. As a child I remember him showing me all the stuff he'd collected during his travels.
When he passed away, his wife started giving away all of their collection to friends and relatives. Since they considered my mom a part of their family, she was given several works of art; including four oil paintings some silver sculpture and the sword in question. I was in elementary school at the time of his passing. When I turned 16, my mom gave me the paintings and the sword.
I'm now in my late fifties. During the time I've had these works of art I've tried in vain to trace their origins.
I tired taking them to local "Experts" but, being a young hispanic kid looking for answers, most of these so called "Experts" were really nothing more than shysters thinking they'd lucked into an easy deal. I wasn't looking to sell; I just wanted to know of their origins.
What I found out for myself from my informal research was that nearly all antiques or artifacts have a story linked to them. This sword is no different. Although I cannot confirm that it's true, (I tried researching the truth about it but found nothing to confirm it.) the story that went along with this sword was that it was presented to president Roosevelt by some indigenous tribe of peoples.
Which President Roosevelt? I don't have a clue. I tried researching both President Roosevelts but found no information of such a sword being presented to either one of them. That's not to say it never happened. I just couldn't run down any information confirming that it did happen. I figured that if such an event did take place, Teddy Roosevelt would most likely be the one, since he was an outdoorsman that traveled the world extensively.
I remember as a kid the first time I saw this sword in their collection, it had a official looking paper displayed directly underneath where the sword was kept. Even back then, this official looking document showed signs of deterioration. Similar to the deterioration that acidic paper undergoes over time. By the time I was given the sword, that "Official looking" document had either been lost or it had disintegrated.
A picture of the sword I've been alluding to can be found on the following web page: www.metmuseum.org/Collections/se ... s/50009495 The only difference between the sword in this image and my sword is that my sword is in much better shape; and it has all the ornate tassels in place.
I've prefaced my inquiry with this long winded dissertation in hopes that it would get you to help me by possibly steering me in the right direction. I don't exactly know where I should turn to find the ture origins of this Sword along with its ornate Scabbard. I'd like to get an idea of when it was made, where it was made and possible value for insurance purposes.
I appreciate any help you might be able to give me. Thanks very much for taking the time to read this.
Tim Montano"
I'm not really a collector or a sword buyer but, I do own one sword that to the best of my knowledge is some sort or rarity.
My reason for posting on this forum is to try to get some guidance as to how to go about authenticating my particular sword.
I was given this sword when I was sixteen years old. Only with the growth of the internet have I been able to do any kind of informal research on my own; trying to learn as much as I can about this sword I've eluded to.
Just recently I sent off an email to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York because I stumbled upon a similar looking sword and sheath in someone else's collection. It was pure luck that I stumbled onto it.
If you don't mind, I'll post the same email text here and it should bring you all up to date with where I'm at in my search for knowledge about this sword.
Right now all I'm looking for is knowledge about the origins of this sword. Also; if possible I'd like to confirm the story that's attached to this sword and any value it may have.
I do plan to inquire in some of the other "Sword-Related" forums. I'm sure someone on this planet with interest in swords and access to the internet is bound to have some answers for me.
Thanks in advance to any who may be able to steer me in the right direction.
HollowPoint
" Greetings from Arizona:
I'm hoping you can steer me in the right direction.
As a kid, my mother used to be a house keeper for some rather wealthy folks that lived in Scottsdale, Arizona. She'd worked for them for such a long time that they considered our family a part of their family.
The man of the house, George Metz, was an author and a world traveler. As a child I remember him showing me all the stuff he'd collected during his travels.
When he passed away, his wife started giving away all of their collection to friends and relatives. Since they considered my mom a part of their family, she was given several works of art; including four oil paintings some silver sculpture and the sword in question. I was in elementary school at the time of his passing. When I turned 16, my mom gave me the paintings and the sword.
I'm now in my late fifties. During the time I've had these works of art I've tried in vain to trace their origins.
I tired taking them to local "Experts" but, being a young hispanic kid looking for answers, most of these so called "Experts" were really nothing more than shysters thinking they'd lucked into an easy deal. I wasn't looking to sell; I just wanted to know of their origins.
What I found out for myself from my informal research was that nearly all antiques or artifacts have a story linked to them. This sword is no different. Although I cannot confirm that it's true, (I tried researching the truth about it but found nothing to confirm it.) the story that went along with this sword was that it was presented to president Roosevelt by some indigenous tribe of peoples.
Which President Roosevelt? I don't have a clue. I tried researching both President Roosevelts but found no information of such a sword being presented to either one of them. That's not to say it never happened. I just couldn't run down any information confirming that it did happen. I figured that if such an event did take place, Teddy Roosevelt would most likely be the one, since he was an outdoorsman that traveled the world extensively.
I remember as a kid the first time I saw this sword in their collection, it had a official looking paper displayed directly underneath where the sword was kept. Even back then, this official looking document showed signs of deterioration. Similar to the deterioration that acidic paper undergoes over time. By the time I was given the sword, that "Official looking" document had either been lost or it had disintegrated.
A picture of the sword I've been alluding to can be found on the following web page: www.metmuseum.org/Collections/se ... s/50009495 The only difference between the sword in this image and my sword is that my sword is in much better shape; and it has all the ornate tassels in place.
I've prefaced my inquiry with this long winded dissertation in hopes that it would get you to help me by possibly steering me in the right direction. I don't exactly know where I should turn to find the ture origins of this Sword along with its ornate Scabbard. I'd like to get an idea of when it was made, where it was made and possible value for insurance purposes.
I appreciate any help you might be able to give me. Thanks very much for taking the time to read this.
Tim Montano"