Recent Conversation

[diegoliger]

Rough transcript of telephone conversation with Curator of Queens East Lancs Museum

Comments

[diegoliger]

Champion of Facts; Enemy of people who "think they know"

[doctor_kaos]

Captain Obscure, saving the world from the Evil Knowitall

[littlebus]

While I know sabre is the more descriptive noun, she wasn't technically incorrect in calling it a sword.

Kind of like if I say tree, and you say elm. We're both right.

As long as she wasn't calling a firepoker or a long pointy spatula, I would concentrate on correcting the big facts first ("Yes, the French totally showed up to that party") and save the small stuff for later ("Did you know that this type of sword is a sabre? You can because...").

[ataraxia_seny]

Be careful; championing (new) evidence which departs from established traditions in the written histories needs gentle footsteps and open questions...I agree with littlebus in that sense. Don't be hoisted by your own petard!

[diegoliger]

Pointing out that a sabre they say is English and is actually French and has "Manufacture Royale de 1831"on the blade isnt really stating anything other than the obvious. The design is French, the blade is French, the scabbard is a French design. I just need to check the proof stamps on it to confirm the date and place of manufacture. If the Museum cannot be bothered to check the objects thay have - a cursory glance on a book on European edged weapons will tell you that that piece is French 1822 sabre- or simply take the assumed tradition at face value or simply dont know then I feel Im doing the right thing by say identifying an object for them in their collection

[ataraxia_seny]

indeed, I don't doubt it, myself. Nevertheless, the softly-softly approach is best if any change is actually likely when it comes to labels on displays and programme materials... I've experienced it myself, sadly when I have been able to identify individuals in archive photographs, providing dating evidence, address/location information, newspaper articles and other photographs of the people concerned. Still no changes....

[diegoliger]

Yeah....tell me about it! The same goes for museums. I think its because people arescared of change and feel threatened by others, espeically if they obviously have more knowledge and/or are junior to the "powers that be".