Mandarin Mansion was founded by Peter Dekker in 2005. He specializes in antique weapons and related items, mainly from Asia and in particular from China, the Himalayas, India, and Southeast Asia. Some of his personal interests include the Manchus of China's Qing dynasty, Sinhalese weapons, Vietnamese weapons, and cross-cultural pieces that are the product of ancient trade networks.
Mandarin Mansion operates primarily through the website mandarinmansion.com. In addition to being an online gallery, it is also a source of information for fellow enthusiasts.One of the ongoing long term projects is a “glossary” with weapon-related terms where articles are added regularly.
About Peter Dekker
Growing up with bad action movies in the 1980s, Peter was initially drawn to the romantic and heroic stories of ancient warrior cultures. That romance of sword fighting faded as he became acquainted with the harsh realities of such confrontations through vivid period accounts. What remained was a fascination with the weapons themselves; they often combine the best technology, materials and craftsmanship that a culture had access to. In their decoration you will find expressions of local art forms, and they often had a deep religious and/or symbolic meaning in addition to their practical function. A passion emerged for studying all of these aspects.
In 2005 he started buying, researching and selling his first antique weapons. In 2016, Peter decided to become a full-time dealer so that he could spend as much time as possible with his beloved objects. Among his clientele are notable private collectors and museums for which he sources items and provides consultancy.
