If you’ve ever wondered how much your antiques, jewelry or coins are worth, it will be easier than ever to have them appraised — simply visit the Downtowner Motor Inn while the Canadian Collectors Roadshow is in town next week.
“We give them a free appraisal and we give them an offer,” said roadshow spokesperson Eric Dvorkin. “If they accept the offer, we do a deal on the spot.”
The Canadian Collectors Roadshow runs from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 17-19, where two or three appraisers will be present to look over whatever visitors bring in. The five-year-old company buys mainly for private collectors in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, and also sells higher-end items at auctions.
“People don’t realize what they have a lot of the time,” said Dvorkin. “When they leave our show, they’re very happy.”
Coins are popular items, he said, and high commodities prices have made gold and silver very much in demand.
Appraisers are also brought a lot of war memorabilia — including bayonets, helmets and medals — but Dvorkin noted that much of it, particularly pieces from the Second World War, is not worth a lot, unless it came from a high-ranking officer. During a visit to Kelowna, for example, the Canadian Collectors Roadshow was shown a gold chain purse from a top general in the Russian army — it was worth about $25,000.
While most items, however, pay in the $20-$50 range, Dvorkin said that the unexpected can happen — a Nanaimo resident brought in a piece of artwork by a mid-1800s Scottish painter, which fetched between $20,000 and $25,000.
“Pretty much everyone leaves happy because they’ve been wanting to know their whole lives what that was,” Dvorkin said. “Their search is finally over.”
Even those who have nothing they want appraised will enjoy the show — seeing valuables tested for authenticity is not something you see every day.
“You have to test the stuff to see if it’s real or not,” said Dvorkin. “It’s like a whole scientific experiment. People love it — they’ve never seen that in their lives.”
For more information, visit collectorsroadshow.ca.