Philip Tom - Professional sword restoration
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Philip Tom has over twenty-five years' experience in research and restoration, having been a collector and student of antique arms since his school days. Through extensive study and examination of fine examples in museums and private collections on three continents, under the guidance of several mentors, he has acquired considerable knowledge of historical development, manufacturing technique, and aesthetic traditions. This understanding enables him to offer a level of service which goes far and above that of merely making a piece look "clean and spiffy" in a display case.
All blade polishing is done by hand. The goal of bringing into view the beauty and metallurgical character of the steel is coupled with the necessity of maintaining the original contours and dimensions of the blade to the greatest extent possible.
Philip Tom: "It's our duty, as collectors and martial artists, to preserve the tangible remnants of our past and our traditions for the benefit of future generations. I'm here to help some of these "old soldiers" gain a new lease on life. Please contact me if I can be of assistance." |
| Restoration and appraisal of the arms and armor of: |
Specialities |
| -China |
-Blade straightening & polishing |
| -The Islamic world |
-Conservation of firearms and sword fittings |
| -India |
-Restoration and fabrication of hilts and scabbards |
| -Mainland Southeast Asia & The Philippines |
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| -Eastern Europe |
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Examples of restoration
Antique Chinese yaodao, or short saber, with lacquered scabbard and horse-tooth pattern
Restoration involved removing the handle which had came from another antique short saber, fabricating a new one, polishing and etching the blade, attending large cracks in the scabbard lacquer with carefully mixed lacquer to match the original color, and adressing the disturbed patina on the pommel done by a previous owner. (Grip wrap, suspension straps by Peter Dekker , antique belt hook associated.) |
Before
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After
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Seventeenth-century peidao in iron fittings
Some blades are just too far corroded so a polish would have to remove too much material to be justified. Below an example of such a peidao, showing what can still be done to such pieces. Philip Tom replaced the broken hilt with one he fabricated himself in proper geometry for the style of fittings. He also removed the active rust on all parts and re-assembled the whole. |
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After
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After
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| Antique Chinese spearhead |
Zhibeidao of Chinese manufacture |
Heavily corroded and probably used as a crowbar. Philip
cleaned it, straightened it, fixed the distorted sleeve and
polished the surface. |
One side polished , the other side left as was. Hilt made by Philip using associated antique Chinese fittings. Grip wrap done by Daniel Hu. |
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After  
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Unpolished
Polished and etched
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Polished
Hilt
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Author of
"Design and Decoration of the Saber in Late Imperial China", Arma Virumque Cano, Krakow: Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie, 2006.
"Some Notable Sabers of the Qing Dynasty in the Metropolitan Museum of Art", published in 2001 in Metropolitan Museum Art Journal, Volume 36.
Other
Addressed the Society of Ethnogrpahic and Historical Edged Weapons Collectors of Israel with lecture on Ming and Qing armes-blanches, Tel Aviv, December 7, 2000.
Advisor on Chinese armament to the National Maritime Museum, Haifa, Israel, for special exhibition on piracy.
Historical consultant for documentary telecast "Oriental Firearms" (part of the Tales of the Gun Series distributed by The History Channel, 2000.
Curator and Conservator for "Sword & Brush: Art from China's Martial Tradition", exhibit at Great River Taoist Center, Washington, DC, September 30 - October 3, 1999.
Masters of Arts degree in History, University of Hawaii, Manoa campus, 1983.
Member, Hawaii Historic Arms Association, Honolulu, since 1980.
Member, Stowarzyszenia Milosników Dawnej Broni i Barwy, Kraków branch, since 1994.
Phone: 310-782-7266 / Email: pcalvus@gmail.com
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