- 2 hrs: Docenting for Sentiment & Science.
- 2 hrs: Inventory - lab - measuring items, photographing items, looking at accession records.
- 4.5 hrs: Inventory - online and library research
- 2 hrs: Inventory - preparing forms, editing photos
_____________
Total 10.5 hrs
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
Links - my reference - scabbard
Just storing my info here for now as my laptop is out of commission.
The Met - Letter opener c. 1900
The Met - Designs for scissors, punches, and thimbles - anon - Fr. - 19th century
Letter Openers - works of art on the desk - ed. K.F. Buchel
I am finding a ton of images of items resembling mine on ebay and other places that aren't reputable (naturally), but not so much luck yet with reputable sources. Anyone know if there's a museum with an extensive collection of Victorian miscellany? That's what I'm trying to figure out now.
The Met - Letter opener c. 1900
The Met - Designs for scissors, punches, and thimbles - anon - Fr. - 19th century
Letter Openers - works of art on the desk - ed. K.F. Buchel
I am finding a ton of images of items resembling mine on ebay and other places that aren't reputable (naturally), but not so much luck yet with reputable sources. Anyone know if there's a museum with an extensive collection of Victorian miscellany? That's what I'm trying to figure out now.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Beads, anyone?
See blue glass beads on the lower left here. This is proving challenging, as I know nothing about beads and would not be able to tell an antique from a fake made yesterday. The description bills them as a necklace, but they're currently strung on a thick wire and would not be wearable as is, plus during this era they might have been "trade beads." Each bead is about 2cm, spheroid, and opaque (not translucent).
Here's what I have so far:
Venetian trade beads. Venice was a big producer. Some similar beads can be seen on a few of these strings, however, it seems that for the most part Venice produced less plain-looking beads.
Peaking beads/padre beads. These seem to have a long and widespread history but I'm having difficulty finding stuff about them from a reputable source. Here is the best I could find: National Music Museum (U of S. Dakota); beads pictured as flute decoration.
Donkey beads (British Museum). I found that the notes from one of the unfinished inventories of the collection lists these as "donkey beads." Based on what I've been able to find about them so far, I have my doubts. The shape and finish don't look the same.
Here's what I have so far:
Venetian trade beads. Venice was a big producer. Some similar beads can be seen on a few of these strings, however, it seems that for the most part Venice produced less plain-looking beads.
Peaking beads/padre beads. These seem to have a long and widespread history but I'm having difficulty finding stuff about them from a reputable source. Here is the best I could find: National Music Museum (U of S. Dakota); beads pictured as flute decoration.
Donkey beads (British Museum). I found that the notes from one of the unfinished inventories of the collection lists these as "donkey beads." Based on what I've been able to find about them so far, I have my doubts. The shape and finish don't look the same.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
Links - artifact research - Polynesian items
For my reference. Thanks to Dr. Castaneda for a couple of these links. Those of you with artifacts from Polynesia may find these websites helpful.
*George Ortiz Collection - lei niho palaoa [pendant]
*Bishop Museum - lei niho palaoa [same shape and dimensions as mine and also walrus ivory]
*Bonhams Auctioneers - kupe`e palaoa [wrist ornament - has similar added elements as our pendant]
Bishop museum - fishhooks - Hawai`i
*Te Kakano - fishhook - New Zealand
*Diagram - Pa kahawai trolling hook - The Coming of the Maori, Te Rangi Hiroa
*Galerie Flak - Maori pa kahawai [not the best source, but darned if I could find a photo one almost exactly like the Beardsleys' at any place that's not in the business of selling them]
Library catalogues, NZ - 3North ~N5000 (thanks, Mallory)
*George Ortiz Collection - lei niho palaoa [pendant]
*Bishop Museum - lei niho palaoa [same shape and dimensions as mine and also walrus ivory]
*Bonhams Auctioneers - kupe`e palaoa [wrist ornament - has similar added elements as our pendant]
Bishop museum - fishhooks - Hawai`i
*Te Kakano - fishhook - New Zealand
*Diagram - Pa kahawai trolling hook - The Coming of the Maori, Te Rangi Hiroa
*Galerie Flak - Maori pa kahawai [not the best source, but darned if I could find a photo one almost exactly like the Beardsleys' at any place that's not in the business of selling them]
Library catalogues, NZ - 3North ~N5000 (thanks, Mallory)
A repatriation drama
During my research today I randomly found the blog run by the journal Museum Anthropology. It mentions a current event: "German Museum Refuses to Hand Back Scalps to Native Americans". If you look at the "more here" link at the end, you'll find a photo of this particular museum which alleges to deliver "genuine insight into the lives and craftsmanship of North American Indians." Looks like something out of a cowboys and indians movie.
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