Realm Collections Blog

The American Old West or the Wild West is one of the most colorful periods in the Western American history. This period has its roots in the events that happened in the latter part of the 19th century between the American Civil War and through the end of the century. One of the most important roles in this era belonged to the Texas Rangers.

Who were the Texas Rangers in the Old West? The Texas Rangers were members of the oldest law-enforcement agency in North America that had statewide jurisdiction. They employed agents quite similar to agents from other world-famous law-enforcement agencies around the world such as the FBI, Scotland Yard, Interpol, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Texas Rangers were responsible for the investigation of different types of crimes that included murder and political corruption. They also acted as riot police and detectives, protected the Governor of Texas, caught fugitives, and performed tasks as a paramilitary force serving both the Republic and the state of Texas.

The Texas Rangers were formed in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin who addressed the need for men to protect his colony. He first employed ten men as his rangers to safeguard settlers from Indians. Subsequently, the council of local government representatives in Texas created a Corps of Rangers in 1835 to protect the frontier from the Indians. The Texas Rangers performed well as frontiersmen and some of them even took part in the war of Texas against Mexico, which eventually led to the state’s independence in 1836.

In the following years of Texan independence, the Texas Rangers gained worldwide recognition when they continued to protect the frontier from Indians and threats of Mexican attacks. They became know as the “los diablos Tejanos” or “the Texas devils.” Some of the most well-known Texas Rangers include Jack Hays, Ben McCulloch, Samuel Walker, and Bigfoot Wallace.

However, after the Mexican War and through the Civil War and Reconstruction, the duties and responsibilities of the Texas Rangers as protectors of the frontier was transferred to the United States army. Thus, the number of rangers became smaller until their duties were no longer relevant. It wasn’t until 1874 when the Texas Rangers were once again restored through two groups, the Special Force of Rangers and the Frontier Battalion, due to the rise of criminal activities across the state. They proved to be as effective as they had once been when their group was first founded in 1823. They remain the elite law-enforcement agency within the Texas Department of Public Safety until today.

Love the Old West or know someone else who does? Visit the Old West Collectibles department at Realm Collections for a variety of products from badges to weapon replicas. Take home the Wild West!

Throughout the ages, women never fail to re-invent themselves when it comes to fashion. This was especially true in Medieval times. During the Middle Ages, from 11th century to 13th century, medieval clothing, in general, varied and depended on the social standing of the individual. Each social class during Medieval times was identified by the type of clothing their members wore. For example, what women wore during this era was conservative in nature and essentially covered them from head to toe.

Medieval women wore a full ensemble consisting of headdresses, garments, footwear, belts, jewelry, capes, and accessories. Furthermore, a medieval woman’s hair needed to be braided or tied in buns and completely covered by a veil or wimple. The veil or headdress worn by all women were worn with the veil’s edge coming towards the eyebrows and hanging on each side of the face. Garments such as the under-gown or long gown had close fitting sleeves at the wrist. The full and loose skirts reached up to the ground and had tiny waists due to the corsets worn underneath the gown. Shoes, on the other hand, were short, thin, soft, and usually made of leather material similar to socks. The belts worn by women were also made of leather with gold studs. These also identified their social status. Jewelry and accessories were only used by the wealthy since these were usually imported and very expensive.

Simple medieval women wore clothes made up of kirtles. These were tunics that were worn long and reached to their ankles. A shirt was worn underneath and a shorter kirtle was worn over both when a woman went out in public. Wealthy medieval women, on the other hand, wore more luxurious clothing made of expensive materials such as silk and with elaborate designs and accessories.

Whether you are maiden, peasant, or noble woman, you can find more historically-accurate Medieval clothing for women at realmcollections.com.

The Tree of Life has varied symbolism depending on the culture and belief system. However, it has a universal meaning. It connects the earth with the heavens and the underworld. It is also the provider of food, knowledge, and all the sustenance that men need. The same was true of the Tree of Life in Celtic Mythology. For the Celts, the Tree of Life was their provider of food, shelter and fuel for cooking and warmth. TheTree of Life was very sacred to the Celts because they believe it had the power to reveal messages from the gods. Nowadays, the Tree of Life is still a revered symbol that can be found in many artworks such as jewelry, paintings, and decor, among many others.

The Celts, who came from the Indo-European people in the late 2nd millennium BC, considered the Tree of Life as their source of wisdom and hope that linked them to the gods. That is why the Tree of Life is also known as “axis mundi” which means “the center of the world.” Since it links all dimensions, men could easily send and receive messages from all the realms – heaven, the land of the dead, otherworld, and earth. It is believed that the Celtic tree of life was planted in Uisneach, the center of the land. Here, it sheltered all life on earth.

According to Celtic mythology, the Tree of Life grew 26 miles high, was able to provide food to all the four corners of the earth, and since it was very high, it was able to reach the heavens and touch the stars. Due to these beliefs, Celts often depended on the Tree of Life for their spiritual fulfillment and for their physical nourishment. They used the tree as the center to align the sun in the sky in the stone circle monuments that they built. The point where the sun was aligned with the circle connected earth with the heavens. Several trees that are associated with the Tree of Life included the oak, evergreen yew, and the apple tree.

Today, the Tree of Life is still a very popular symbol in many Celtic artwork such as in jewelry using variations like Celtic knots and decorations during Winter Solstice, Yule, and other Celtic celebrations.

For a full selection of art and jewelry based on the Celtic Tree of Life, visit realmcollections.com.

Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur which has different origins and stories surrounding it. It is the sword that was said to have been given to him as a gift from Avalon while another story says it was the Lady of the Lake who gave Excalibur to Arthur. Some stories tell of the sword that Arthur pulled out from the stone as being Excalibur. However, many other legends say that King Arthur had two swords, the first was the one he pulled out of the stone that broke during a fight with Pellinor and the second was given to him by the Lady of the Lake.

Many legends of Excalibur surfaced from different books and stories. Most often stories tell about Excalibur as the sword pulled out from the stone and the one belonging to the Lady of the Lake as one and the same. However, when Arthur’s sword broke during a duel with Pellinor, Merlin told him that the sword was not the true Excalibur. That was why Merlin brought Arthur to the lake where he met the Lady. When they were talking, a hand surfaced from the middle of the lake holding a sword. The lady told Arthur that this was Excalibur and that it belonged to her. She told him that she would give the sword in exchange for a gift. A story also tells of King Arthur’s death ending with him giving back the sword to the Lady of the Lake.

The description of Excalibur also has different versions. One is that is has a golden hilt with designs depicting twin dragons whose eyes shoot out fire while others say the eyes are capable of calming people or beasts. Jewels such as diamonds and topaz also adorned the sword. The blade, on the other hand, is said to have engraved words on both sides of the sword. On one side it says, “take me up” while the other side has the words, “cast me away.” However, another legend says that the words engraved were “one edge to defend” and “one edge to defeat.” The blade of the Excalibur is said to shine so brightly like that of thirty torches and capable of blinding enemies while the scabbard has greater value since it protected Arthur from losing blood.

Drop by realmcollections.com for replicas of King Arthur’s legendary sword. You can also find other mythic weaponry and treasures.

Fashion and clothing during the Medieval Age was dictated by a person’s status and role in society. Each person wore clothes according to his/her function and how rich or poor he/she was. Peasants wore very simple and plain clothes while the clothing of the nobility was elaborate, colorful and made of very expensive materials. The same was true for a knight during Medieval times. He was expected to wear an ensemble of clothing that befitted his role in society.

Therefore, a well-dressed knight wore, in general, a sleeveless surcoat designed with his family crest or coat of arms. He also wore chain-mail which was made of a rough mesh of tiny and fine chains woven together to make a material that was cloth-like. Chain-mail was a knight’s basic protective armor. However, this was both very heavy and very expensive. It took several years to create and still could not provide protection against rocks, clubs or maces. Subsequently, other armor and clothing was styled for knights in the 13th century. Armor plating was added to protect the delicate parts of the knight’s body, and helmets were also improved for more protection for the entire head.

What did knights wear underneath their armor and chain-mail? A knight donned a plain linen shirt, undergarments called bruchen, hose or stockings, and a jacket called the gambaison that was thick enough to protect the knight from rubbing his skin against his armor . This ensemble plus the chain-mail and armor were all worn under a loose jacket which carried the design of his coat of arms or family crest. Afterwards, in the late 14th to early 15th century, the complete suit of armor was created. This was more uncomfortable to wear with the other clothes that they had to wear underneath and over it. However, it also restrained the body from moving freely but did offer more protection and durability.

For a one-of-a-kind collection of armor, including from the Medieval and Samurai eras, visit realmcollections.com.

Swords are weapons and cutting tools made from metal and are usually long-edged. There are several kinds of swords and these include medieval swords, pirate swords, rapier swords, saber swords, and Oriental swords, among many others. If you are a sword enthusiast, you may have one or two of the swords mentioned in your collection. However, how do you properly display them in your home without changing the interior of your entire living room or for that matter, any room inside your house?

This question will be easier to answer if you have already decided to either have a medieval or Asian inspired theme for your house. Otherwise, there are several other ways of displaying your sword collection.

One would be to place the swords on top of the fireplace. If you only have one sword to display, it would be best to just have it on top of the mantle using a type of mount such as a sword table stand to add effect. If you have several swords, then it would be possible to ask a carpenter to place sword hangers on the wall for your swords.

Another way to have your sword collection on display would be to purchase a cabinet with glass doors or one built entirely of glass. You can arrange your swords in it with stands according to their type with the option to include a brief description of each sword written on display cards.

Finally, if you have a larger hallway, you can display your swords on the walls using stands (pictured top left), plaques or hangers (pictured bottom right) just like they do in castles. You can even add breastplates, shields, armor, or banners to complete the medieval look of your home interiors.

You can find a variety of unique decorative sword displays by clicking here.

If you are an Old West enthusiast then definitely you have at least two or three items from this era. An Old West collection may include handcuffs, jail keys, guns or pistols, holsters, hats, clothes, and a lot of badges. Who wouldn’t recognize a shiny Sheriff star badge from many Old West movies? However, there are different kinds of badges that you can collect aside from the Sheriff Badge (pictured left).

If you would like to be a serious collector of badges from the Old West, it is important to know some information about them.

• US Marshal Badge – includes the Marshal Deadwood badge, US Marshal (fancy-the type worn by Wyatt Earp), US Marshal (plain) or Marshal Dodge City (badge worn by Bat Masterson, Ed Masterson, Charlie Bassett and Wyatt Earp)
• Texas Rangers Badge – includes Texas Rangers Company B, Texas Rangers Company D (Frontier Battalion), Texas Rangers Company A (Peso Badge), Special Ranger (Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association), San Juan Colorado Rangers, California Ranger, Territorial Rangers, Arizona Rangers, and Captain Arizona Rangers.
• Sheriff Badge – includes Lincoln County Sheriff, Sheriff (Star), Sheriff Presidio County, Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Constable, Sheriff (Shield), and Sheriff (Tombstone).
• Agent Badge – includes Pinkerton Detective Agency (a private detective agency that went after Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid among others), Pony Express Messenger (worn by Pony Express riders who carried mail), Railway Express Special Agent, and Indian Police (the type worn by Red Tomahawk who killed Sitting Bull in 1890) among several others.

These are just a few of the Old West Badges also available for purchase online. These badges are high quality replicas that usually come in gift boxes and story cards. They also have mounted pin fasteners with options of placing them in display boxes which are also available from online Old West collections sites.

Most of us may not know a thing about the Battle of Thermopylae but once we hear about the movie “300,” it actually brings vivid pictures of this battle into our minds. This epic fight between the Spartans and the Persians on a narrow pass within the mountains of Thermopylae (meaning “hot gates”) was the famous Battle of Thermopylae. This narrow pass that controlled the single road between Thessaly and Central Greece was where King Leonidas, his 300 Spartans and other allies made a stand against the thousands of troops led by Xerxes of Persia.

The Battle of Thermopylae was just one of the wars fought by Greeks during many centuries when almost the entire world was dominated by Persians. However, before this war happened, Athenians were able to defeat the Persians led by King Darius during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Thus, Persians failed to conquer mainland Greece. Marathon sparked the ire of Xerxes, King Darius’ son and successor, who after replacing his father on the throne, planned to avenge his father’s defeat. In 480 BC, after building up an army of about one hundred fifty thousand men and six hundred ships of navy, Xerxes was prepared to invade Greece.

The Greeks, on the other hand, were led by Athenians and Spartans. King Leonidas of Sparta came with 300 of his hoplites, elite soldiers who were trained all their lives for battle, to lead the Greek troops that during this time numbered by ten thousand and were called “10,000 Immortals.” They were the ones who decided to sacrifice themselves by fighting Xerxes head-on and to delay the Persians from invading the whole of Greece. This happened when they found themselves making a stand at Thermopylae. Unfortunately, Ephialtes, a Greek who turned traitor told Xerxes of an alternate route around the pass. This gave the Persians a chance to attack the Greeks from the rear. Leonidas upon learning of Ephialtes’ treachery, told the Greek army to retreat but leaving him and his 300 hoplites to stay until they were able to safely leave the battleground in Thermopylae. The Battle of Thermopylae ended with Leonidas and each of his Spartan hoplites dead but this boosted the morale of Greeks that led them to defeat the Persians in subsequent battles.

For costumes and accessories related to Thermopylae, drop by the “300″ section at realmscollection.com.

Whether you are playing a pirate, a gladiator, a medieval knight, or even a duelist circa the Civil War, one of the most thrilling parts of a stage show might involve a sword fight using practice swords (pictured left). Practice swords are a safe way to not only learn the art of self defense but also to learn theatrical sword fighting. Plays such as William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” both respectively show royal battles and swashbuckling on the high seas. Actors do not shy away from depicting the swordplay on stage even though it might seem dangerous.

Theatrical sword fighting can create a convincing onstage illusion by applying a wide range of moves developed over the years by professional choreographers and directors. These include actual martial arts from many different disciplines toned down to make them less dangerous but maintain breathtaking excitement. Another word for theatrical fighting is “stage combat.” Fencing, a sport itself, is a common form of stage combat. Stage fencing follows the same techniques of the sport but modified so the weapons used don’t cause actual harm or even touch the actor.

Choreographed fighting moves depend on the props used. Practice swords are less dangerous to the actors but require more practice to make the fights look real. Routines are then developed to fit the scene. With more and more practice, the actors can develop their technical routines and make them even flashier.

The actors’ movements might appear real and shocking but it is all rehearsed. Unlike in other areas of theater, improvisation cannot be used since it would be too unpredictable and introduce unforeseen changes that would be entirely dangerous especially when props and scenery are involved. All in all, theatrical sword fighting can be dramatic, exciting, and safe.

For more information (or training) in theatrical sword fighting and other stage combat, you can take a class such as those offered at the Atlanta Stage Combat Studio or the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat.

You can also find a wide variety of practice swords from many different eras by clicking here.

The Holy Grail has always been a point of interest in many written works and in popular art. From ancient times to present times, the mystery and symbolism of the grail in literature has never died down. From the earliest written work of Chrétien de Troyes, “Conte del Graal” or The Story of the Grail to The Da Vinci Code, the controversial novel turned movie of Dan Brown, many are still in the dark due to the diverse ideas and beliefs about the grail.

The Holy Grail has been known by its different names and representations. It is known as:

• The Grail
• The Holy Chalice
• The Cauldron
• Sangrail
• Sangreal
• Sang-real
• The Cup of the Last Supper
• The Cup of the Cruxifixion

However, it is universally defined as the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper as well as the cup at the foot of his cross that caught drops of his blood while he was dying. While another story says that Joseph of Arimethea used the grail to collect Jesus’ blood after he was removed from the cross. It is believed then that the cup contained magical powers because it held the blood of Jesus Christ. This story is the same in most of the literary works that spun stories about the Holy Grail. Even though the grail has different origins, the same attribute is given to it, that is, it has magical powers. Whether it has the power to heal, to regenerate, as a fountain of youth, to provide food and other riches, as well as invincibility, the grail has always been sought after.

From King Arthur to Indiana Jones, the stories in books and movies describe adventures of courage and determination to find and claim the grail. Literature wouldn’t be as rich without the following other written works of art about the grail: “The Perceval of Chrétien de Troyes”, “Diu Crône” (The Crown), “Vulgate Cycle”, “Joseph d’ Arimathie” of Robert de Boron, “Idylls of the King” of Alfred Tennyson, “Parsifal” of Richard Wagner, “Baudolino” of Umberto Eco, and the most recent “The Da Vinci Code” of Dan Brown. The latter actually interpreted the Holy Grail as the sacred blood line of Jesus Christ instead of the cup itself.

You won’t need to search far and wide for your very own grail. A faithful replica from a 17th century drawing (pictured bottom right) is available by clicking here.