Saturday 7 February 2015

THE ANTIQUARIAN: Vasili Arkhipova, The Man Who Saved the World

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, a fleet of four Russian submarines were armed with nuclear weapons and stationed off the coast of Cuba.  The subs did not need permission from Moscow to launch their "special" weapons―instead three men on site had to agree, including Commander Arkhipova who had veto power.

After being harassed by American destroyers above, thinking war had been declared and low on batteries, the decision was made by two of the three men to launch the nuclear weapons.  It was only Vasili Arkhipova's staunch refusal that saved the world from nuclear annihilation.

Commander Vasili Arkhipova
Arkhipova ordered the subs to surface and surrender to the Americans.  The subs were never boarded but held hostage until the crisis had reached a political conclusion; at this point the Americans released the submarines and they returned to Russia.

Instead of being lauded for his courage and humanitarianism, Moscow berated the Commander for shaming the Russian military by surrendering.

Sunday 1 February 2015

THE ANTIQUARIAN: Hair Jewellery

Before the invention of photography, Hair Jewellery was the most practical means to commemorate a loved one by keeping a part of them to wear close to the body.  The example below is a pin that depicts a lady cradling a child near an urn on a pedestal and states: "J.C. obt [died] July the 21st 1785, aged 2 years and 7 months---Not Lost, Gone Before."

from the Anne Louise Luthy collection

The hair has been embedded along the rim of the piece and, as was common practice, may also have been crushed and mixed into the paint that the artist used.


Image and information from "Antiques Uncovered, Episode 3." BBC. 2015