The Rural Voice, 1999-10, Page 41Home Decorating
The pot of gold is rare among treasured possessions
By Patti Robertson
My Gramma Brown would say to
me "Patti, all that glitters is not
gold!" and I understood — even surr-
ounded with Gramma's fine furniture,
accessories, and lovely jewellery.
Recently I was a guest on the
CKNX Talk Show, with host Brian
Allen. The
featured guest
was Mr.
Livingstone
from Wadding -
tons in Toronto,
an expert on
antiques rarities
and collectibles.
Livingstone had
guaranteed
Brian that his
segment of the
show would
only be of
interest for the treasure
first 10 minutes,
after which I would step in and the
rest of the programme would be
helpful hints on how to display one's
collectables and treasures.
Well, we kicked off the
programme and immediately the
phone lines lit up and stayed that way
for the entire show! Every -one who
got through was waiting to have
Livingstone inform them that "yes
indeed, you have struck paydirt with
the item you have just described to
me". More often than not our expert's
answer was "it's probably worth
more to you as a sentimental value",
or "there are lots of those around", or
"it sounds like you paid
approximately the right price (mean-
ing "you got what you paid for").
Only twice during the program did
I honestly hear a piqued interest and
intensity in Livingstone's voice,
because of an item being discussed.
Mind you this man knows the best
and will not be easily impressed. The
programme ended and Brian prof-
usely apologized to me for having
little opportunity to participate — but
I totally enjoyed myself and found it
once again profoundly interesting as
to how each of us gets so totally
caught up in our possessions, and we
Enjoyment is
the greatest
just know, that this time, with this
treasure we've surely found the pot of
gold at the end of the rainbow.
Believe me folks that's a true rarity!
So my advice is to enjoy your
possessions for what they truly are.
Look at them, and ask yourself,
"what does this mean to me?" Is it of
sentimental value? It is beautiful? Is
it useful? If you answer yes to any of
these questions then keep your
treasure and work it into your dccor.
Enjoy it! It's most appropriate to
display our treasures for all those in
our lives to enjoy. How heartbreaking
to lock something away that can give
people visual or tactile pleasure. How
special to lift down a treasured
figurine to share up close with a
grandchild. What a great way to teach
grandchildren family history and
sentiment and appreciation. One of
the most lovely dinners I was ever
served was presented on hostess,
great grandmother's "Sunday Dinner-
ware" (edged in 24 carat). I have no
memory of the food, but I sure do
recollect those dishes. Wow, they
turned the meal into a lifetime mem-
ory. What a price can one put on that
kind of experience?
It's wonderful to work our
treasured pieces into our decor, by
colour grouping, if the colouration of
the piece suits the room's decor
display or use it within the room. In
the makeup room at Ward's studio
we have used a lovely antique saucer
as a soap dish.
Collector plates and dolls are the
most lovely displayed throughout
one's home, not all clustered in the
living room. Look to see the theme
on the plate. A collection of angel
plates will work in a child's room, a
collector doll pouring tea suits the
dining room. Please, be very aware
that collections you buy from maga-
zines, the TV and the TV Guide are
not rarities. Chances are you will get
no more than what you paid for. If
you are serious about collecting, your
local library has innumerable books
on rarities and collectables. Start
visiting museums, galleries, antique
shops, etc. Attend an auction at
Sothebys for a "real eye opener". Ask
questions. There is a whole world of
antiques waiting to be discovered and
enjoyed. Make sure you take your
wallet!
Now, I did not mean to burst any
bubbles, so in closing a couple of
stories: A chap here in Wingham
attended the Antiques Roadshow
while in Toronto and was informed
his 1960s James Bond poster bought
at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham
years ago is now worth between
$2,500 and $3,000 American because
of its rarity and condition. And a
client of mine bought a secondhand
sofa and chair set some time ago
from an older lady who insisted that
an old painting go with the set,
because it matched. The purchase
price for the set was $75. The oil
painting, free! She had kept the paint-
ing because the walls in her home
were bare, the oil painting was
"better than nothing". However, this
past spring the ugly old oil painting
sold for over $3,000 at Sotheby's in
Toronto. Who would have guessed?
And then there is my brother-in-
law Stuart who deals in high-end
antiques. While attending an antique
show in Markdale he did some yard-
saling and purchased an old, crudely -
made iron cross, which had originally
adorned one of the local churches.
The purchase price – $5. Upon
returning to the sale he showed it to a
dealer buddy who promptly paid $50
for the cross. The next big show was
in Toronto and the "Dealer Buddy"
sold the cross for $300.
Of course the crude little cross's
fame had become one of being the
very first cross to adorn the first
church in the Beaver Valley many,
many years ago. Months later Stuart
and the dealer Buddy were in Ottawa
at another sale, and here again was
the cross, being presented as the very
first cross to adorn the original Jesuit
Mission in Canada. Of course the
Jesuits had hand forged this cross
with iron brought from France. The
Cross sold for $500. Now folks, you
have to admit the story alone was
worth $500.0
Patti Robertson operates Classic
interiors in Wingham.
OCTOBER 1999 3'
4