Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.forbes From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Photographs by Rich Frishman Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 11:08:08 EST Message-ID: "Copyright 1992 Forbes, Inc. Any further reproduction or redistribution without the express written permission of Forbes and ACC is prohibited." Photographs by Rich Frishman German helmet made around 1470 About 70% of European armor on sale is fake. vowed thereafter to seek professional advice. They now double-check every piece they purchase with Peter Gwynn, a noted British collector and dealer. Other sources have included the Galerie Fischer and the experts at Christie's and Sotheby's in London. The Boyds have now amassed one of the best private collections of Euro- pean arms and armor in the world. Numbering about 100 pieces dating from 700 to 1700, the collection includes tunics of chain mail, swords, pole arms, helmets and gauntlets. These pieces decorate the walls of a formal gallery in the Boyds' home in Seattle. Like most good collections, the Boyds' medieval arms bring history to life. The nine pieces of parade ar- mor_a helmet, shield, breastplate, gauntlets, armored saddle and a steel chanfron (armor for a horse's head)_ were made for Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, in 1560. A sleekly designed helmet with blackened eye- slits and hinged visor was worn during the time of the battle of Agincourt in 1415, when Henry V invaded France. And a 4-foot-long sword dating from 1099 was captured during the Cru- sades by the Ottomans, who later inscribed vindictive messages in be- tween the Christian symbols on the blade. ''They say things like 'death to whomever wields this,''' explains Boyd with relish. The Boyds have only one complete suit of armor; it stands guard in their den. It's not their favorite since it is a composite, made from about six suits dating from 1470. But they like the provenance. The suit was once owned by William Randolph Hearst, who had a huge arms and armor collection in the 1930s. The best public collection of arms and armor in the country is at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Meanwhile, a fine loan exhibit from the oldest and largest surviving armory in Europe is now touring the country for the first time. ''Imperial Austria: treasures of art, arms and armor from the State of Styria'' is at the Smithsonian Institution in Wash- ington, D.C. through Jan. 24, 1993 and will be at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston Mar. 14 through June 27, 1993. Herschel and Marili Boyd in their Seattle home One of the best private collections in the world.  "This information is the property of Forbes, Inc., ACC takes no responsibility for its content, or the actions of any individual or institution, predicated on the information herin. Forbes Subscriptions are available to students and faculty members at the student/educator rate of $33 for one year, 27 issues. Regularly priced $52. Information about print subscriptions may be had by calling 1-800-888-9896. For further information about the electronic version of Forbes, contact usa@AmeriCast.COM"