Visited McHaffie’s Flea Market yesterday. For anyone with a love for antiques and retro/vintage items, there is no better place to spend a gorgeously sunny, cool, breezy Sunday morning. First stop was Off-The-Wall Retro to buy a West German ‘fat lava’ vase. Owners Gordon and Sherry have gorgeous retro decor items at fantastic prices. As…
It’s no secret that I do perform occasional quid pro quo work for a few select people. They are antique store owners, flea market vendors, and private individuals with certain specialties. It is their expertise that I call upon when I want to verify something, or need to fill gaps in my knowledge. In return,…
A great part of being an appraiser with an interest in antiques is having one foot in the present and the other foot in the past. Being aware of Canada’s history helps ensure that certain names leap out when I least expect it. That was the case when I came upon an anonymous hotel register…
Recently I was contacted by a potential client who wanted an appraisal done on antiques that are a draw for their hospitality-based business. They wished to learn the antiques’ value to help determine if they wanted to sell them individually or as business assets. Sounded like an interesting assignment, especially as I have several contacts…
Take a moment to think about the household you grew up in. Was it modern, with the latest and greatest of everything? Or were things a bit older, perhaps showing their age, and included items that you rarely see nowadays? When you’re driving down the road and see a roadside sign for an antique store…
It has come to my attention that most people dread seeking out the services of an appraiser because they have been told by a lawyer, accountant or insurance agent that an appraisal must be done. Appraisals for such ‘must-have’ reasons (settling an estate, probate, marital dispute, tax reasons, insurance) run into the thousands of dollars,…