Collectibles or Cultural Heritage?

TVV · 7th August 2025, 10:56 PM

Interesting philosophical thread. The question of the historical and cultural value of our collectibles is a complex one, as such things are subjective and sometimes hard to evaluate properly. How an object is viewed depends a lot on the person viewing the object and this person's unique background and biases. The question at its core is an emotional one, not a rational one, and a single correct answer to it does not really exist.

I can therefore only speak for myself and here is how I personally view ethnographic arms and armor collecting:
1) It is for my personal enjoyment: for me, this is first and foremost a hobby and something I do for fun. I am just a collector, not a professional dealer or an academician.
2) As collectors we are temporary caretakers of the artifacts we collect. All my swords and daggers will eventually move on to others to enjoy. In the meantime, I will have played my small role in the preservation of these items. I firmly believe that as collectors we play a vital role in the storage and conservation of antiques, many of which would have been destroyed if not for us and our interest in them, but that is a separate topic outside the scope of this thread.
3) The study of the arms we collect and the preservation and enhancement of the knowledge we have about them is just as important as the physical preservation of the items. Understanding the cultural and historical context of our collectibles elevates them from a curiosity to historic artifacts.

I personally find this Forum to play a key role in the last point above. It is a great depository of knowledge (and images too), and an online community for those of us who share an interest in arms and armor where we can discuss all aspects of our hobby in a relaxed manner. If the real question is whether the Forum should be turned into a more structured and academic environment, I would vote NO, because I am afraid that such a change would discourage beginners from joining and participating. There are other places online better suited for those who want a bit more serious approach - I like this Forum the way it is.

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7th August 2025, 10:56 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,669	Interesting philosophical thread. The question of the historical and cultural value of our collectibles is a complex one, as such things are subjective and sometimes hard to evaluate properly. How an object is viewed depends a lot on the person viewing the object and this person's unique background and biases. The question at its core is an emotional one, not a rational one, and a single correct answer to it does not really exist. I can therefore only speak for myself and here is how I personally view ethnographic arms and armor collecting: 1) It is for my personal enjoyment: for me, this is first and foremost a hobby and something I do for fun. I am just a collector, not a professional dealer or an academician. 2) As collectors we are temporary caretakers of the artifacts we collect. All my swords and daggers will eventually move on to others to enjoy. In the meantime, I will have played my small role in the preservation of these items. I firmly believe that as collectors we play a vital role in the storage and conservation of antiques, many of which would have been destroyed if not for us and our interest in them, but that is a separate topic outside the scope of this thread. 3) The study of the arms we collect and the preservation and enhancement of the knowledge we have about them is just as important as the physical preservation of the items. Understanding the cultural and historical context of our collectibles elevates them from a curiosity to historic artifacts. I personally find this Forum to play a key role in the last point above. It is a great depository of knowledge (and images too), and an online community for those of us who share an interest in arms and armor where we can discuss all aspects of our hobby in a relaxed manner. If the real question is whether the Forum should be turned into a more structured and academic environment, I would vote NO, because I am afraid that such a change would discourage beginners from joining and participating. There are other places online better suited for those who want a bit more serious approach - I like this Forum the way it is.