Rich Mutschler’s Interview with Tara Lynn of Channel 2

Treasure Hunters Gathering at Galleons Lost – Learn What It Takes to Build a Treasure Collection December 16

Rich Mutschler

Treasure hunters like Rich Mutschler are a special breed. This lifelong passion requires an extensive knowledge of history, special training in identifying real treasure from fakes, a patient mind and significant investment. On December 16, 2010, at 6 p.m., all local history and treasure buffs will get a chance to spend an evening with a modern day Indiana Jones, Rich Mutschler, and learn how and where to start a collection.

Voyager International Inc. is planning a treasure hunting expedition to Bali in January 2011. Interested participants will learn about unique items that they will be able to purchase on this cultural and trade expedition to Bali.

Mutschler believes that responsible trading of historic commodities has to start with education and training. “Our expeditions are so popular that large groups have to wait up to three or more years to be accommodated,” says Rich Mutschler, the president of Voyager International Inc.

Voyager International Inc., an international corporation that trades ethnographic art and investment and museum quality maritime treasure items, selected Charleston to open its first retail store, Galleons Lost (www.galleonslost.com), in April 2010. The gallery offers the Treasure of the Island Kings collection, authentic artifacts and rare objects from the spice routes to China dated back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The gallery is located at 165 King Street, downtown Charleston, SC.

Rich Mutschler, ethnographic art dealer, expedition leader and internationally acclaimed musician, founded Voyager International after his 1985 trip to Bali. Mutschler fell in love with the diverse cultures of Bali, and the preservation of this culture became his life’s mission. He respects the very fine balance between the preservation and the sale of historic commodities.

To participate in the lecture, please rsvp at info@galleonslost.com. The lecture starts promptly at 6 p.m. at Galleons Lost located at 165 King Street in downtown Charleston.

Casting Call for New TV Reality Show “The Island Trader”

Rich Mutschler, the founder of Voyager International Inc. and the director of Galleons Lost, will be featured in pilot episodes of a new reality television series where dreams come true, The Island Trader. In January 2011, the crew led by the HBO director Tom Harvey will be shooting in Bali. Producers are currently seeking adult participants interested in taking part in this pilot and traveling with the crew on a trading and cultural expedition to Bali.

Rich Mutschler and his fellow actors will visit different locations all over the world, including Europe and Southeast Asia. Most of the scenes in the pilot will be shot at Mutschler’s personal trade and cultural headquarters, the Casa Rosa Trade and Cultural Center, shadowed by ancient volcanoes on the mystic island of Bali.

“Right now the crew is concentrating on the “teaser”, the pilot and general considerations for the general production,” says Rich Mutschler who will be the host of the show.

“We are all excited and with the treasures that Voyager International and Galleons Lost already have, there will be much to share with the TV audience,” he continues.

The Island Trader is a reality series which is a combination in elements of Antique Road Show and Fantasy Island. In each episode, the host, Rich Mutschler, leads his group of art and antiquity collectors on a quest to acquire rare cultural and treasure related items from Europe to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.

Rich uses years of expertise in the ethnographic and treasure related fields to reveal the stories behind the history of selected artifacts as expedition participants wonder in awe over the allure and value of their acquisitions.

Voyager International Inc., an international corporation that trades ethnographic art and investment and museum quality maritime treasure items, selected Charleston to open its first retail store, Galleons Lost in April 2010.

Rich Mutschler, ethnographic art dealer, expedition leader and internationally acclaimed musician, founded Voyager International after his 1985 trip to Bali. Mutschler fell in love with the diverse cultures of Bali, and the preservation of this culture became his life’s mission. He respects the very fine balance between the preservation and the sale of historic commodities.

To participate in the pilot or the expedition, please call 843-577-3862 or 561-373-0619.

Rich Mutschler Visiting Malta to Scout for Reality Show Locations

Rich Mutschler, the founder of Voyager International Inc. and the director of Galleons Lost, will be featured in a pilot episode of a new reality television series where dreams come true, The Island Trader. The crew led by the HBO director Tom Harvey was shooting in Charleston on October 11-15, 2010. In September, Rich traveled to Europe looking for locations in Malta and other European countries with rich treasure history.

The Island Trader is a reality series which is a combination in elements of Antique Road Show and Fantasy Island. In each episode, the host, Rich Mutschler, leads his group of art and antiquity collectors on a quest to acquire rare cultural and treasure related items from Europe to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.

Rich uses years of expertise in the ethnographic and treasure related fields to reveal the stories behind the history of selected artifacts as expedition participants wonder in awe over the allure and value of their acquisitions.

Galleons Lost Gallery Reception Featuring Collection of Keris Knives, October 1

Galleons Lost, a subsidiary of Voyager International Inc. that brings the Treasure of the Island Kings collection to Charleston, will hold an opening reception for a special collection of Keris knives on Friday, October 1, 2010, from 5 to 8 p.m. during the French Quarter Art Walk. The store is located at 165 King Street in downtown Charleston, SC.

The authentic maritime treasure and ethnographic art gallery will feature its one-of-a-kind collection of highly collectable and sought after Keris knives. The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger indigenous to Southeast Asia.  The keris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, but many have straight blades as well. Keris blades have existed for thousands of years; they are very difficult to make and are believed to have magical, supernatural and spiritual properties which makes them so extraordinary. Their creation began as early as in the 7^th century from iron ore and meteorites. The metals are beaten together by keris blade smiths called Empu in layers until a thin sheet is formed which is then shaped into the typical wavy or straight form.

Both a weapon and spiritual object, keris are often considered to have an essence or presence, with some blades possessing good luck and others possessing bad.  Empu did more than forge the weapon; they carried out the old rituals which could infuse the blade with mystical powers.

Keris were worn on a daily basis, especially when traveling to be used for self-defense. Heirloom blades were handed down through successive generations and worn during special events such as weddings, these heirloom keris knives are very valuable and highly collectible.

Galleons Lost offers investment and museum quality maritime pirate treasure including shipwreck coins, gold doubloons, pieces of eight as well as South sea pearls, gold treasure and estate jewelry from aristocratic families, blue and white Ming porcelain, silver jewelry made from salvage silver from centuries old shipwrecks, Spanish and Portuguese cannon and Pirate Era weaponry as well as oriental rugs, exotic wood art, Tibetan coral, Keris knives and ethnographic art.

The Post & Courier Feature: History buff brings rare artifacts to Lowcountry

The Post and Courier’s CharlestonScene features Galleons Lost on Thursday, July 22, 2010. The feature story offers a closer look at the store and Rich Mutschler who started it all! Read more at: http://www.charlestonscene.com/news/2010/jul/22/history-buff-brings-rare-artifacts-to-lowcountry/

Look for Galleons Lost & Voyager International at Ohio State Fair

The Ohio State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the United States. It is held in Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, on July 28th to August 14th, 2010. Collectors, vendors and visitors from all around the world attend the event.

South Sea Pearl, Pirate Era coins and gold treasure

Voyager International will be displaying and selling land and sea treasure including highly collectible Keris knives; gold and silver coins of the Pirate Era – gold doubloons, piece of eight; South Sea pearls; gold and silver jewelry and many other treasure items and ethnographic art. Look for us at the Antiques Pavilion.

The local store in Charleston will be closed during this time.

Galleons Lost Sells South Sea Pearls to Wholesalers and Jewelry Designers

South Sea Pearls

South Sea pearls are among the largest commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world. The average size of a South Sea pearl is 13 mm, with most harvests producing a range of sizes from 9 mm to 20 mm. The South Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia and the southern coast of China. These waters are the native habitat of a large oyster known as Pinctada maxima. This oyster grows up to 12 inches in diameter, and can be nucleated with a much larger bead than other saltwater oysters such as the akoya.

The South Seas are also extremely clean, and filled with plankton – the Pinctada maxima’s favorite food source. The clean waters and abundant food supply also speeds the nacre production. The growth period for South Sea pearls is also substantially longer than that of the akoya. Akoya pearls are harvested after only 9-16 months, where as South Sea pearls are harvested after a minimum of two years allowing for a larger size.

South Sea pearls are so unique because they have several distinct characteristics that are unique to this gem. The nacre is unusually thick, ranging from 2 – 6 mm, compared to the 0.35 – 0.7 mm of an akoya pearl. South Sea pearls have a unique, satiny luster that comes from the rapidly deposited nacre and warm waters of the South Seas. South Sea pearls also have a subtle array of colors; typically white, silver, and golden, that are rare in other pearl types.

Galleons Lost has an incredible selection of South Sea pearls of many colors and sizes. The gallery sells them at wholesale prices.

Galleons Lost Items in Interior Design

Keriss Knife

Bronze Cannon

Royal Jewelry and Weaponry

Highly Collectible Keriss Knives

High end interior designers who are determined to find unique, luxury items to place in the homes of their clients flock to Galleons Lost Gallery as these highly collectible items make a perfect addition to any gentleman office. Bronze cannon, 16th and 17th century weaponry, oriental rugs, exotic wood art, Ming porcelain, gold artifacts and many other unique items offered by Galleons Lost adorn homes of ethnographic art enthusiasts and pirate treasure collectors from all over the world.

Heirloom Keris Knives

Gold Keriss Knife with diamonds and rubies from Lombok, Indonesia, King piece, one of two, both slightly different

The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger indigenous to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.  The keris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, but many have straight blades as well. Both a weapon and spiritual object, keris are often considered to have an essence or presence, with some blades possessing good luck and others possessing bad.  Keris-makers did more than forge the weapon, they carried out the old rituals which could infuse the blade with mystical powers.

Keris were worn on a daily basis, especially when traveling to be used for self-defense. Heirloom blades were handed down through successive generations and worn during special events such as weddings, these heirloom keris knives are very valuable and highly collectible.