megram - Index

megram - 55JulOttawa - Index

Recycling life’s memories
There are folks who attend garage sales with the fervor and tenacity of Olympic runners.
They race to each address and are usually first to the driveway. When the sale starts at 8
a.m., they’re apt to be there by 7:15 – at the latest – as stuff is still being dragged out
to the grass.
What’s the rush to weed through other people’s cast-offs?
It’s a treasure hunt. Those in the know will tell you that if you root through enough
mismatched cups, ugly ties, tacky lamps and dog-eared, paperback romance novels, the
needle in the haystack will appear – in the guise of a vintage Rolex watch, a 1950s Pez
dispenser (in the original packaging) or a signed Limoges porcelain pillbox.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a decades old lunch box in mint condition, an art deco
mirror or some funky 1960s salt and pepper shakers to add to those on your kitchen shelf.
One thing is for sure. As the eco-movement sweeps our country, collectibles are the
new It items for shoppers who love interesting things. As an antique shop regular, a flea
market enthusiast and an auction aficionado, you don’t have to feel one bit guilt about
being a conspicuous consumer. After all, you’re recycling.
And the world of collectibles is as wide as your imagination. Forget the old standards
– spoons, stamps and sports cards. How about vintage metal advertising signs, steam whistles
or carnival glass vases? People of all descriptions are hankering after everything from
rare maps and sheet music to silver thimbles, tin peanut butter pails and 18th century fine
art.
Jill and Jo Westra of Bytown Auctioneers are appraisers and auctioneers with nearly
three decades of experience. “People collect a range of items,” they note, “from early
museum quality to nostalgia to kitsch.”
What’s hot? The Westras list currently popular and highly valued items as:
• earlier Canadian, American and European paintings
• jewellery (in particular Victorian, art deco and high quality costume jewellery by specific
manufacturers)
• art deco and art nouveau items of all types
• smaller pieces of earlier, quality furniture
• nostalgia collectibles (toys, children’s books, car and beer related items)
• sterling silver (not silver plate).
If you’re a newbie collector or you’re keen to purchase antiques, they advise you to
educate yourself by going to auctions, visiting antique shops and checking the internet.
“Concentrate on quality items, not fads.”
To find out if items you own have value, they suggest you “show photos of the items
to an auctioneer or antique dealer, check on the internet or pay for an appraisal by a
knowledgeable appraiser.
“Our advice is to deal with reputable people, ask for references, and get more than
one opinion on items you wish to sell.”
Janet Carlile is an independent, accredited antiques appraiser who has appeared on
CBC’s Canadian Antiques Roadshow. Her expertise is in appraising fine art, furniture,
July/August 2008 • 30 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine