Advice needed for my collection

DaveA · 27th July 2020, 12:49 AM

Thank you everyone for the ideas.

We are in the midst of a raging pandemic and I am in a high risk group. Otherwise, my health is good and hope for many more years to enjoy my collection. So no rush! I like the idea of nominating one or more auction houses. I will probably gift some items from time to time before then. When my daughters were married I gave a keris to each groom as pusaka for the new family. (And also to perhaps spark interest!)

Dave A

Pinoy Blade Hunter · 27th July 2020, 12:57 AM

i think it would be a good idea to introduce your family to a trusted collector friend or friends so that the families may consult eachother about the collection when the time comes.

i plan on doing that also.

Duccio · 27th July 2020, 10:14 AM

I would like to modestly suggest another possibility: if you want the objects of your collection (at least some) not to be scattered and you like the idea that a wider audience can enjoy them, you can donate them to some museum that then show them off. A magnificent example is the imposing collection that Frederick Stibbert donated to the city of Florence in 1906: you can see on the web what it contains.

A. G. Maisey · 27th July 2020, 11:04 AM

I gave my Javanese son-in-law a keris when he married, but I do not have enough daughters to get rid of everything, so when this question about a succession plan comes up I invariably think of a life-long friend of mine who was also Australia's doyen of Eastern Edged weapon collectors.

For many years he would always say that he was going to take his collection with him, but when he finally experienced a medical event that put him into God's Waiting Room, he bequeathed his entire collection with the exception of one piece to his step-daughter, along with his records which included date of purchase and price paid. He also made recommendations for disposal which came down to public auction through the most experienced Australian auctioneer of antique edged weapons. His idea being that he wanted his collection to pass to other collectors.

I mentioned that he bequeathed everything to his step-daughter except for a single piece. He identified a single item as a gift to a friend. He did this before he died and entrusted his step-daughter to comply with his request. Regrettably he was unable to include his request in his will.

After his death the step-daughter and her husband refused to comply with the request of the departed gentleman, claiming that they had no knowledge of his request. This was an untruth, as they had mentioned the request to the person who was supposed to receive this gift prior to the death of my friend.

I think that this little tale drives home two very important things.

Firstly, whatever one might decide to do with any asset in his possession at time of death must be clearly stated in a properly constructed and enforceable will. Trust in a friend or relative can be badly placed where money or things of value are concerned.

Secondly, the thieving step-daughter and her husband will undoubtedly burn in Hell for Eternity, which is not a nice thing to remember about anybody, no matter how evil and twisted they might be.

27th July 2020, 12:49 AM	#1
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	Disposition of collection Thank you everyone for the ideas. We are in the midst of a raging pandemic and I am in a high risk group. Otherwise, my health is good and hope for many more years to enjoy my collection. So no rush! I like the idea of nominating one or more auction houses. I will probably gift some items from time to time before then. When my daughters were married I gave a keris to each groom as pusaka for the new family. (And also to perhaps spark interest!) Dave A

27th July 2020, 12:57 AM	#2
Pinoy Blade Hunter Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 62	i think it would be a good idea to introduce your family to a trusted collector friend or friends so that the families may consult eachother about the collection when the time comes. i plan on doing that also.

27th July 2020, 10:14 AM	#3
Duccio Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 64	I would like to modestly suggest another possibility: if you want the objects of your collection (at least some) not to be scattered and you like the idea that a wider audience can enjoy them, you can donate them to some museum that then show them off. A magnificent example is the imposing collection that Frederick Stibbert donated to the city of Florence in 1906: you can see on the web what it contains.

27th July 2020, 11:04 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,736	I gave my Javanese son-in-law a keris when he married, but I do not have enough daughters to get rid of everything, so when this question about a succession plan comes up I invariably think of a life-long friend of mine who was also Australia's doyen of Eastern Edged weapon collectors. For many years he would always say that he was going to take his collection with him, but when he finally experienced a medical event that put him into God's Waiting Room, he bequeathed his entire collection with the exception of one piece to his step-daughter, along with his records which included date of purchase and price paid. He also made recommendations for disposal which came down to public auction through the most experienced Australian auctioneer of antique edged weapons. His idea being that he wanted his collection to pass to other collectors. I mentioned that he bequeathed everything to his step-daughter except for a single piece. He identified a single item as a gift to a friend. He did this before he died and entrusted his step-daughter to comply with his request. Regrettably he was unable to include his request in his will. After his death the step-daughter and her husband refused to comply with the request of the departed gentleman, claiming that they had no knowledge of his request. This was an untruth, as they had mentioned the request to the person who was supposed to receive this gift prior to the death of my friend. I think that this little tale drives home two very important things. Firstly, whatever one might decide to do with any asset in his possession at time of death must be clearly stated in a properly constructed and enforceable will. Trust in a friend or relative can be badly placed where money or things of value are concerned. Secondly, the thieving step-daughter and her husband will undoubtedly burn in Hell for Eternity, which is not a nice thing to remember about anybody, no matter how evil and twisted they might be.