The Champion Strad Dec 8 2007
Fredricton New Brunswick is the home of this wonderful tale. An elderly weather beaten gentleman arrived accompanied by 2 "Burly Guards." In his arms he clutched a violin case which obviously contained his pride and joy. He glanced nervously from side to side as he sat down and leaned over and whispered in my ear "I've got a Strad" (Common nomenclature for a Stradivarious Violin). He then informed me that he was the Maritimes Champion Fiddle player for 1958. Never missing an opportunity for some fun I asked him if he would play for us. That violin was out of the case in 2 seconds and we were treated to the best 10 minutes of toe tapping down east violin music I have ever heard. The crowd applauded when he was done. Now we had to get down to the serious business of the appraisal. The violin did indeed have a Strad Label in it but it was what we refer to as a facsimle Label. This violin was a copy made in the early 20th century but none the less had an amazing sound when played by an experienced violin player. I now had to give him the bad news that it was not genuine. He was crestfallen and leaned over and whispered in my ear "What am I going to tell my buds at the fiddle club". I leaned over and whispered to him "Tell them you have a Strad as thats what the label says" He smiled and said that will be our little secret and thanked me so much for in his mind he still had a "Strad" and his "Buds" need never know that it was not genuine.
On a recent Antique Hunting trip we had the good fortune to visit the wonderful town of Kinmount in the Kawartha lakes area North of Coboconk. It is heartening to see a town that takes its Heritage and Past to Heart. The picture is of the old wooden saw mill in a bad state of disrepair. Made of wood with a tin roof it needs a major restoration which will be done. Most towns in Ontario would tear it down as is the mentality of most local politicians. It is great to see a town taking pride in its past and saving something for future generations. The waterfront treatment is nothing less than stunning with Gaslights and flower boxes along the waters edge. These symbols of our past must be saved! In travels out west the towns that have saved the old Watertowers have a symbol of the past and also a symbol of the town. It is ironic that a number of towns have had to build new symbols to attract tourists. The world's largest egg in Vegreville, The largest sausage, The largest Wheat Sheaf and my favorite "the Big Apple in Colborne". Well done Kinmount!! I look forward to a return visit to see the progress you have made.
The Kinmount Mill Jan 2008
A set of 4 figurines of the Beatles was issued in the 60s by Goebel the company famous for its' Hummel Figurines. These figurines were multicolored and the set of 4 is extremely rare and worth in the neighbourhood of $10,000US plus. Is this a prototype?, an unpainted figure inadvertently released, who knows. It then falls in to the category of the "RAREST OF THE RARE". Value would in all likelihood in our opinion be at least $10,000 . Based on our knowledge, the owners knowledge and extensive research this appears to be the only one in existence.
Rarest of the rare Beatles Goebel Figurine. Dec 15 2007
The Unknown Doulton- Rarest in Canada? Dec 22 2007
It's always exciting and challenging when an undocumented Doulton shows up for appraisal.
This is the Very rare Royal Doulton Figurine "The Diligent Scholar", first made in 1913 as a companion piece to HN16, 'the sleepy scholar.'
It was modelled by William White, one of 5 modellers working for Doulton in the early 20th Century. 'Charltons' Standard price guide, makes reference to one figurine HN26 in a mottled brown and green colourway and values it at $11,000.00 CDN.
The subject figurine brought in for appraisal ( not shown as a courtesy to the client) is in a blue white colourway and there is no mention in the Doulton book of this colour!
Usually even non production pieces are mentioned as either "Extremely Rare or "none known to exist".
Since White only modelled 3 figurines for Doulton, this figurine would be up there with the "rarest of the rare " in my opinion!!
The process for evaluating an item where there are no similar or comparable items is quite interesting. In contacting some other experts in the field they would not even attempt to value it which I found quite surprising as there has to be a value for it!
At the least it should command at a minimum double the price of the known figurines making it worth in the neighbourhood of $20,000 .
The blue/white is also a much more attractive colour and it makes me wonder why it was not put into production, probably not as fashionable at the time. .
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I am an avid fan and collector of 30s and 40s Ontario Scenic Landscapes that have special meaning to me. This is a wonderful oil on board of Roseneath Landing painted in the 40s by noted Canadian Mouth Painter Myron Angus who's biography follows (taken from the Mouth Painters Society website). While not incredibly valuable it is the story that makes it priceless. Just imagine the painstaking work required to paint this by mouth. I have it hanging in my hallway and every time I walk by it it reminds of fun times spent at Rice Lake as a child and also the dedication of the artist. Collect the things you love!!
Date of birth: 28 February 1928 | |
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The arms and legs of Myron Angus have been paralysed since birth. Therefore he learned how to perform his daily tasks from his wheelchair with his mouth and gradually also learned how to draw and paint with the mouth. Myron Angus has devoted all his energies to improving his painting technique. Even when he could not get the artistic training he needed he did not give up and started teaching himself how to paint, instead. He began to copy the old masters from the Bible. Later, landscapes became his trademark. Myron Angus prefers watercolours. He also completed his education. After finishing school he accepted a position with a garage, where his tasks included painting advertising inscriptions for lorry doors. | |
FEB 2008
MOUTH PAINTING RICE LAKE- ROSENEATH LANDING BY MYRON ANGUS C.1948
FEB 2008
CALEDON FALL 1928 CONYERS BARKER
Another Wonderful Canadian Scenic Landscape from the 1920s. Conyers Barker had a unique style all his own. To see the full story on this landscape please visit my associates website . Jan2/2008 Blog Canadian Fine Art sold in Snowstorm
JUNE 2008
UNSIGNED CONTEMPORARY
CANADIAN ART
When attending auctions I am always on the look out for interesting and/or unusal 60s/70s Canadian Art. This piece particularly caught my eye. While unsigned the artist had talent and appears to capture many icons of the 60s in his images. I can see John Lennon, Marcel Marceau, Dudley Moore to name a few. It would be nice to know who the artist is and what was going through his mind when he painted it?
Aug 2008 Fiona De Vletter "Horseman and Spirits"
Another interesting Auction purchase. When I first brought this into the house I thought to myself 'What have you done?" and where will you hang it . Upon further investigation it turns out the painter is quite well recognized and is represented in the National Collection of Zambia as well as the "Museum of Fine Arts in Sudbury. Fiona was born in Java Indonesia and Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, the Hague Holland.and is a member of the Lusaka Art Society. The picture is still not hung but it is one of the favorites in my ever increasing collection of 60s/70s modern art.
Dec/2008 Fond Memories
It is always a wonderful surprise
to find something while treasure
hunting that can trigger many fond memories. As a child I had
the good fortune to grow up in a
military family. My wonderful parents Melford and Gladys Gummer ensured that wherever we lived we took in all the Culture
and History of the area. This obviously started my interest in Antiques at a young age. This lighter is now a wonderful symbol to me of our 4 years spent in Marville France. I purchased it at
an Auction in Campbellford Ontario, not far from the military base in Trenton. It would be wonderful to know the History. Did it belong to a pilot and possibly was in his flight suit in a cf-104 flying over the Ardennes Hills in France? We'll never know but it is now a cherished treasure of my time spent in France.
