1. Hook Swords A rather well-known tool used by the Shoalin monks of northern China, the crescent shaped hook sword was an excellent weapon for blocking blows as well as slashing those who got too close. Most of their usage came from civilians, as the Chinese military suprisingly did not use them in any of their…
With Game of Thrones on all of our minds, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the most powerful swords in the game! When it comes to this fiction time period, Valyrian steel was the metal of choice. Valyrian steel is a form of metal that was forged in the days of the mighty Valyrian Freehold.…
When designing your home, what holds more value: off the shelves, factory-made objects, or timeless collectibles that tell a story of the past? I think the answer is obvious. Agrees Dilshad J Patel, an avid antiquity collector, says “Each and every object in my home has been carefully collected over the years from various antique shops,…
Described as the “Titanic of the ancient world”, the Antikythera shipwreck that was first discovered in 1900 could very well be the largest ancient shipwreck ever discovered. The crash site is located off the island of Antikythera in the Aegean Sea, and it’s estimated that this ship was smashed against Pinakakia’s rocks around 2,000 years…
In today’s day and age, the Internet is filled with all kinds of educators; from scholars, to reporters, to bystanders. It’s incredible the kind of knowledge you can gain from simply searching the web. Bloggers have made a solid presence across the web, offering a mix of hard knowledge and opinion. Here are a few…
Recently America has celebrated the designation of another national monument: the San Gabriel Mountains of California. Did you know that the San Gabriel Mountains of California provide LA with some 30 percent of its drinking water? Additionally, the 340,000+ acres of wilderness are home to many rare and endangered species, including the California condor. It is because…
Five years ago, antiquity dealers had long-earned reputations, established bases of operation, traveled internationally to all the key antiquities events, and had a deep knowledge of the field. Today, with the advances in technology and the rapid changes on the web, it seems anyone can claim to be a dealer. The web is a maze of…
Can you believe that 3 billion dollars each year fall into the hands of those plundering and trading art and antiquities? Many of the battles still persist in the search for these hidden treasures. Here are five treasures of the world and their stories. 1. Nefertiti’s Bust During a 1912 Egyptian excavation, German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt discovered the…
1. Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York, NY The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the single largest museum in the world under one roof. While it can be overwhelming, it offers a broad understanding for each ancient civilization throughout history. The Metropolitan Museum has more than 2 million works of art representing 5,000 years of history. It’s…
Antiquities are making a comeback in a big way. According to the New York Times, “Last month in London, sculptures from ancient Egypt and ancient Rome sold for 15.8 million pounds and £9.4 million respectively, setting the highest prices at Christie’s and Sotheby’s summer auctions of pre-20th-century works.” The rise in sales of these antiquities…