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Category Archives: Columns

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Russian triptych icon, $25,000, Doyle

Russian triptych icon, $25,000, Doyle

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall   A patinated metal and cloisonné enamel triptych icon, featuring a depiction of the Resurrection in the central panel flanked […]

The 100 Year Perspective

Cover Trial December Image

On January 1, 1921, California beat Ohio State 28-0 in the Rose Bowl. In that same week, the country’s first religious service radio broadcast aired on KDKA-Pittsburgh, Turkey made peace […]

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Alfa Romeo concept cars, $14.8 million, Sotheby’s

Three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars together brought $14.8 million in sales of Contemporary and Impressionist & Modern Art held October 28th by Sotheby’s

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall Three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars together brought $14.8 million in sales of Contemporary and Impressionist & Modern Art held […]

Exploring Antique Technologies: Shaped in Steel – Dissecting the Technology Behind your Edged Weapons

The Roman gladius was a short (two feet), sharply-pointed, double-edged sword and its design had evolved over the centuries to be the ideal weapon for the legions of the Roman Empire. It was forged from high-grade steel and was primarily suited for the Roman fighting style, where shield usage was heavy and swords were called upon to thrust and stab through the shield wall. In their book From Sumer to Rome: the Military Capabilities of Ancient Armies, historians Richard Gabriel and Karen Metz wrote that in the hands of a highly trained legionnaire, the gladius “was the most deadly of all weapons produced by ancient armies, and it killed more soldiers than any other weapon in history until the invention of the gun.” photo: Wikipedia

by Kary Pardy There are lots of reasons to be drawn to edged weapons, and their beauty and history are chief amongst them. Each piece carries with it a complicated […]