New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-03
RIGGS'S S5,OOO,OO0
ARMOR FOR MUSEUM
Continued from first page.

Of European rulers from 1900 10 100,
Including such rarities as fauchards of
Louis XIV and of Cardinal Borghese
The collection Of halberds is believed
10 be the most complete extant.
II was poined out by the director Of
the museum that much Of the armor
represented work by artisans who la
bored solely for their rulers, and for
that reason. as we'll as for the beauty
Of the armor. the collection would be
Of great significance TO the student.
Collection Nearly All Hero.
Practically all OF it is now housed in
the museum. only few pieces remaining
in Paris 10 be repaired.
DR.. Bashford Dean, curator Of arms
and arnor I'm the museum, sketcned
briefly little known facts about Mr.. Riggs,
vino is bachelor and who has lived in
Paris since 1854.
Mr. Riggs was born in New York In
1897 I'm one OF the old mansions when
faced the south side OF Bowling Green.
He was a son of Elisha Riggs. the well
known banker. He was educated at the
Racon School. IN New York, and pre-
nared himself to enter Columbia Cniver-
sitv. In 1858 he took part In the beai
expedItion to the Rocky Mountains Inc
following year. after his fathers death'
he went abroad. and has remained there
pvor since. except for short visits. He
continued his studies at Silligs's lnstitu-
ton in Vevey, at the Polytechnic in Dres-
den and at the University Of Heidelberg
Mr. Riggs was a schoolmate OF J. fier-
pont Morgan at Vevey
He early became interested in arch&ol-
ogy and at. but his life work in study
ing and collecting European armor Oh
the Middle Ages, was stimulated by MS
friend and master. Pere Carrand. the
archivist Of Lyons. Mr.. Riggss authority
I'm this field came TO be sucn mat hl9
sdvice and assistance were sought o.!
such archmologists as Violet-le-Duc ana
Victor GAY. in whose works he was COL
laborator.
For more than forty years Mr.. hless
has lived the retired life Of student
ole has never given up his citizenship
IN the United States" said DIT. Dean
and declares he is a New Yorker
In all the sixty years he has devoted 10
bringing together his collection OF arms
and armor, DR.. Dean added. MI h'ss'
has had one aim in view, and that was
to place il ri the service of the art
loving people OF the United states
Arms in Good Condition.
Armorers especially trained ior 'he
work have preserved the objects IN per
foot condition. At one time the collecuor
numbered 5000 pieces. BY discardinS OF
exchanging objects Of lesser Importance
sometimes a hundred or more Specimen
at a time in order TO get single iii
portant piece. the NUMBER mas
brought down TO 800
| Mr. Riggs has been ureless collector
He has been in touch with deaiers ID
antiques and salesrooms ever since III
went 10 school with Mr.. Morgan. IN 1907
lie ransacked the old palaces and garret'
Of Italy. In Venice he obtained important
specimens dating from the time OF 'h'
earlv Doges from the Tiepolo Palace.
The collection of the Marquis ran
ciatich- Ximenes, which. contained numer
Gus historical objects. was acquired u
Florence. In the JOS and 6Os he Vis'teo
| Spain seven times. He travelled on morse
hack and took with him string OF pacf
mules 10 carry away his nnds.
! He attended the sale OF tho armor o.
tho Castle Hohenaschau. in Bavaria, ano
! purchased a large number OF the MS
torical suits in this ancient collection. II
,ho sos he secured In Dresden number
., dunIicates Of the royal collection.
| o,hcr collections which yielded thei
,n,portant specimens to Mr.. Riggs "er'
the spitzer. De Ressman. DE beaumont
,ondeshoro. De Cosson, Magniac, fon
cine Nieyerkirke. Soltykon, Dem'don
y-holdi and Meyrick. Some OF the armo
a,so came from the De Clermont coiiec
zion which formed part OF the sncien
armorv Of the Dukes OF Lorraine ah'
,,ludes niece said to be OF great arusu
,.rit richly etched, embossed and sildeu
The museum has small coHeeuon .
arms and armor at the present tihie
known as the Dino collection ana Sum
supplementary collections.
The institution will open to the pupH
| uitbin the SPACE OF a year. three ehhlpi
lions never duplicated there before, ana
4, the words of Mr.. Robinson. the direc
tor, in any other museum