Antiques Roadshow Fundraiser a success!

The Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives (SCMA) 10th Annual Antiques Roadshow is our major fundraiser each year.  This year Sunnycrest Mall provided the venue to us free of charge and all the support cast were SCMA directors or friends.  We had over 160 individuals come through the gate with up to 3 items each.  We had 7 appraisers: 5 from Vancouver and 2 from the Coast.  Vancouver appraisers were Jeff and Jane Harris, (General Antique Appraisers),  Edward Tokarek (Asian Works of Art and General Antiques), and Greg and Linda Devine  (Antique Jewellery).  From the Coast we had Darcy Burke (coins and stamps) of the Trading Post in Gibsons, and John King (books and manuscripts) who is a bookseller from Garden Bay.  All the appraisers donated their time but handed out their business cards if anybody was interested in putting their items to auction.

As well as the SCMA we had displays and representatives from the Egmont Heritage Centre, the Sechelt Archives and the Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society.  On display were antiques and photographs highlighting the history of the various areas on the Sunshine Coast.  The SCMA ran a mystery object contest: the winner was Kathi Dunlop who correctly identified the fire extinguisher device that came from the "Ailsa 1", a 32 foot yawl built in Vancouver in 1907.

Some of the items that were appraised included an American double eagle $20 gold piece valued at $1300, a number of books from the 16th Century including one from 1566 valued at $1000 , 5 different people with sets of Japanese Kutani porcelain tea sets at around $250 per set, a number of Edwardian Lavaliere pendants ranging in value from $200 to $1500 each, and a sword and map from World War One planning the attack of 2 Canadian Army companies against the Germans in France.  Two of the most valuable items were a TE Eatons 1/4 century  14 carat Rollex watch valued at $7 to $10,000 and a painting by the French Canadian artist Pilot valued at $8 to $10,000.

On behalf of the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives  we extend a big thank you to the appraisers, the volunteers and the public who attended the Roadshow.

Ian Thomson, Roadshow Coordinator