The Basiliscoe Mercury 114
The Internet newsletter for the arms and armour community
For horse lovers, we have chariots, carriages, dead horses and horse furniture. However if it is planes that float your boat, we have several items relating to the Battle of Britain. With summer finally arriving, we get a little skittish, with something for every taste in our popular culture spot. Meanwhile, someone has put many of the recent U-boat discoveries to use.
Arms and armour in the news
Acient arms
Prehistoric dart found in Colorado - video and pictures
http://www.colorado.edu/news/r/6f01e0cf192c909927c88da29caafdd8.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100629131322.htm
Prehistoric pictures - the movies of their day
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100629/lf_afp/austriabritainitalyarchaeologyfilm_20100629160342;_ylt=AmL3RT3tQDUwpRdm5DxH2SPOSpZ4
Chariots in the Middle East - picture
http://newmedia-eng.haifa.ac.il/?p=3309
Archimedes and the steam cannon
http://www.livescience.com/history/archimedes-set-roman-ships-afire-with-cannons-100627.html
Lady gladiators In Herefordshire? Probably not.
http://heritage-key.com/blogs/bija/roman-mystery-woman-discovered-near-hereford-not-female-gladiator
Iron working site found in Malaya
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=510547
Medieval Miscelany
Crusader fresco goes on display in Israel - pictures
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early+History+-+Archaeology/12th_century_Gethsemane_fresco_Israel_Museum_29-Jun-2010.htm
Jousting for ladies
http://macarthur-chronicle-campbelltown.whereilive.com.au/news/story/jousting-a-passion-for-sarah-hay/
Remembering Grunewald 1410
http://www.thenews.pl/international/artykul135214_heads-of-state-to-attend-historical-battle-celebrations.html
http://www.thenews.pl/culture/artykul135125_teutonic-knights---digitally-reconstructed-.html
Searching for the Towton rose
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/jul/05/leeds-author-towton-rose-quest
King Erik’s castle discovered
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/49442-medieval-castle-uncovered-on-samso.html
Farnham Castle reopens
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/art79907
That new French Castle is shooting up - impressive picture
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10440300.stm
What they have been digging up in the Netherlands
Mystery of the mass burial of 17th century horses in the Netherlands - picture!
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1886929/archaeologists_unearth_17th_century_horse_burial_site/index.html
!7th century grenade found in the Netherlands
http://www.depers.nl/opmerkelijk/492887/Granaat-uit-17e-eeuw-gevonden.html
http://www.scientias.nl/niet-ontplofte-granaat-uit-17de-eeuw-teruggevonden/12535
And a rather more modern grenade - with picture
http://www.blikopnieuws.nl/bericht/114459/Granaat_gevonden_bij_graafwerkzaamheden_Grote_Markt.html
Cannons to the left, cannon to the right
Tussle over Exeter cannons - no pictures of the cannons
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Cannons-stand-guard-castle/article-2358996-detail/article.html
Iron cannons identified and getting a makeover in Sicily - pictures
http://www.tempostretto.it/8/index.php?location=articolo&id_articolo=40764
http://www.messinaierieoggi.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1175&Itemid=1477
Update on the cannons from Oregon
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/researchers_uncover_origin_of.html
http://www.ktvz.com/news/24077754/detail.html
Virginian Civil war guns and monument to be restored - picture
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/local/ci_15447647
Important 1880s cannon abandoned in New Zealand - pictures
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10654882
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10655622
Kennebunk’s war memorial story
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100708-LIFE-7080347
More modern times, mainly Battle of Brittain
George Washington’s Valley Forge cabin found
http://phoenixvillenews.com/articles/2010/07/06/news/doc4c334f1643ae8403840844.txt
52 visitors trapped in Castell Coch by faulty drawbridge
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/10466327.stm
Stalin finally overthrown
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38933
Duxford hanger
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/world+war+two/art80052
More battle of Britain objects…
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/world+war+two/art80454
Live shell found in Cornish pub fireplace
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/10564217.stm
Nautical news
Mary Rose goes into space
http://www.culture24.org.uk/science+%2526+nature/space/art79915
Update from the Swash Channel shipwreck
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/swash/swash_2.shtml
Colonial period wreck in Florida
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-07-02/colonial-era-shipwreck-found
Searching for evidence from the British attack on Boston
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/05/forgotten_1775_battle_now_in_focus/
All these newly discovered U-boats are making historians rethink WWII
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/news/discovery-of-uboat-wrecks-rewrites-the-history-books-2017940.html
Museum news and exhibitions
News
Ulster Museum wins major art prize
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Ulster-Museum-wins-100-000-Art-Fund-Prize/21098
Heeresgeschichtliche Museum win web award
http://www.hgm.or.at/ger/
Attendance at the Met goes UP
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38998
But free museums may be under attack in UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2010/jun/30/free-museums-government-cuts
Openings and new Museums
Deutsches Marinemuseum re-opens
http://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/marinemuseum100.html
http://www.marinemuseum.de/
Extension planned at the Mauritshuis
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38992
Review of the Ashmolean, with picture of Japanese armour
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2010/jun/28/ashmolean-museum-refurb-oxford
Weapons Gallery in the Pitt-Rivers re-opens
http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/
New battle of Britain gallery opens
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/world+war+two/art80368
Museum developments
Plug Street goes blogging
http://www.plugstreet-archaeology.com/blog/?p=574
Battle of Britain blog begins
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/world+war+two/art80399
http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org/
Historypin is launched
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/jul/04/historypin-photography-sam-leith
Conservation corner
Afghan vet gets job in the Armouries making armour
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/modern+conflict/art80055
Objects
Stolen Caravaggio found - nice armour
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38948
Dragoon pistol found in river sold - feeble picture
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Sale-antique-gun-pulled-stream/article-2345614-detail/article.html
Wolfe portrait sells - picture
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=39134
Pictures of the Spencer carriages going on sale
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=39025
Mementos of the Indian mutiny go on sale
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=39082
Custer’s flag goes on sale
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38892
Exhibitions
Fakes in London (this one sounds really fascinating)
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/close-examination-fakes-mistakes-and-discoveries
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/jun/29/national-gallery-art-exhibition-fakery
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38941
Wallace Collection and Spanish Civil War
http://www.wallacecollection.org/collections/exhibition/87
Remembering the troubles in Ulster in Wolverhampton
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/war+%2526+conflict/modern+conflict/art79862
Sporting art at Bowes
http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions%20and%20events/exhibitions/225/
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/painting+%2526+drawing/art80071
Købke in Edinburgh
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibition/5:368/9313
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=39055
Mexican archaeology in Berlin
http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/de/aktuell/festivals/11_gropiusbau/mgb_programm/mgb_aktuelle_
ausstellungen/mgb_04_ProgrammlisteDetailSeite_1_14082.php
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=39014
Portraits in Vienna
http://www.khm.at/en/kunsthistorisches-museum/exhibitions/current/intermezzo-02/
The Swiss Army Knife reaches Zurich….
http://www.musee-suisse.ch/e/zuerich/wechselausstellungen/2010/das_sackmesser.php
Bernadotte in Stockholm
http://lrk.lsh.se/default.asp?id=7180
Mummies of the World start their tour in LA (not to be confused with the latest Rolling stones gig)
http://www.mummiesoftheworld.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10520923.stm
Books
Matthew Landrus: Leonardo Da Vinci's Giant Crossbow
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wu051tE_oQMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Leonardo+
Da+Vinci's+Giant+Crossbow&hl=en&ei=_yg3TK3ZJ5iosQaozrTvBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=
result&resnum=1&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Stephen R Bown: Merchant Kings
http://www.conwaypublishing.com/book/stephen-r-bown/merchant-kings
Online Book
Catherine Johns: Horses: history, myth, art
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GBaiLESllNEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=horses&hl=en&ei=OaQ4TOS2MMPvnQfL
vvWBBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false
John Taylor: The art of defence on foot, with the broad sword and sabre 1804
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Y7kUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Art+of+defence+
on+foot,+with+the+broad+sword+and+sabre&hl=en&ei=Nqc4TOXnGMGEnQe01OWXBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&
ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Popular Culture
Went the day well? Is re-released
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jul/03/went-day-well-patterson
Ray Harryhausen's monster archive Bradford bound
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jun/29/ray-harryhausen-film-effects-models
Wonder woman gets a makeover, but keeps her corset (pictures!)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/30/wonder-woman-new-outfit
Fighter planes in Gallery - but is it art? (pictures)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/jun/28/tate-britain-fiona-banner
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/jun/28/tate-britain-fiona-banner1
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/sculpture+%2526+installation/art79998
But more interesting, how it was done:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/jun/29/how-did-tate-hang-harrier )
Sue Arnold reviews audio books on the theme of Afghanistan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/10/sue-arnold-audiobooks-afghanistan
The world of sumo wrestling rocked by betting scandal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/28/sumo-wrestles-illegal-betting-scandal
Hurrah! The Castle is back!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t0qxz
Conferences, lectures and diary dates
Summer events at the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum
http://www.hgm.or.at/ger/
Events at the Armemuseum, Stockholm
http://www.sfhm.se/ArmeDefaultPage____27.aspx?epslanguage=SV
Events at the Wallace Collection
http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson
Conferences
26-29 July 2010 Middelaldercentet Denmark
From Trebuchet to cannon - symposium and workshop
http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/Projekter/hox.html
Sales Fairs and auctions
28 Jul 2010 Knightsbridge
Sporting Guns and Antique Arms and Armour
http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=17945
http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=17946