megram - Index

megram - 55JulGTA - Index

and whimsical things
decorative arts and antiques. Over the last 30-odd years, she’s come across all
sorts of interesting items, people and stories.
“A person called me up a couple of years ago, saying ‘I’ve got a Tom
Thomson leaning up against the furnace,’” she recalls. The caller was
talking about a painting by the famous Canadian artist closely associated
with the Group of Seven.
Carlile had her doubts, having dealt with many folks who
believed their dusty attic treasures were rare and pricey only to
discover, after the dust settled, that they were, in fact, cheap
knock-offs. So she was in no particular hurry to mess around in
the furnace room. She went anyway and – surprise, surprise –
the jumble in the basement did include a hidden gem, an
authentic artwork by the Canadian icon. “It was quite extraordinary,”
she says. “It had been stored there.” She pauses, a
smile in her voice: “His wife didn’t like it.”
Every collectible has its tale. “It’s really the story that makes
an object interesting, rather than the object itself.”
Whether you want to dabble in collectibles and antiques or
you want to dispose of your own valuables, she urges you to do your
homework. “The more you know, the better,” she says. “Knowledge
is power.”
If you’re a buyer, she advises: “Always buy what you like, not what
somebody else feels you should like.” And stay within your budget.
When you’re downsizing and looking to dispose of possessions, she urges
you to take the time to find out what they’re worth. If there’s any question about what
is there, get the facts from an expert. If need be, get a second opinion.
It’s not unusual, when there’s a life change in the works, for people to hire somebody to go in, clean a place out
and dispose of items, Carlile notes. But what if there is a Group of Seven painting in the basement? The fussy stuff
in the china cabinet is worth a small fortune? That ornate, walnut sideboard in Aunt Aggie’s dining room is the work
of a revered 19th century cabinetmaker?
“Once you’re aware, you can act accordingly.”
For Eastern Ontario collectors and lovers of all things vintage, heaven has many addresses and one of them is on
Highway 138.
A half a mile outside of Cornwall, Johnson’s Antiques is packed to the rafters – inside and out – with over 10,000
items, from copper wash tubs and ornate, previously-used dog collars to antique furniture, yesteryear costume jewellery
and tons of vintage glassware in all styles and colours.
There’s apt to be a dog curled up on the floor having a snooze and if you get talking to owner Doug Johnson he’ll
have a tale or two to tell about anything from Minnitoys to depression glass.
For seekers of these special finds, the fun is in the hunt. Whether you’re at a yard sale, an auction or a road-side
antiques business that’s been around for decades, it’s a sentimental journey. And the prize is a piece of the past that
you get to hold dear.
July/August 2008 • 31 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
By Pam Dillon