By Shaun Markey – I found it hanging on a wall in a small, local antique shop. It is a crudely made wooden canoe paddle that obviously served someone well over the years. The owner thought enough of the paddle to paint the words Ottawa River on the blade […]
By Shaun Markey – After a long, grueling winter, a good portion of which was spent trapped in the house, you’ve decided it’s time to turn over a new leaf. It’s time to rid your home of a myriad of things that have been taking up valuable square […]
By Shaun Markey – A common characteristic of almost all collectors is that they collect more than one type of antique. It’s not surprising therefore to find collections within their collections. As we move toward the winter months, many collectors will be hauling out their Christmas decorations. For […]
By Shaun Markey – There’s an ebb and flow to the antique market, which in part is caused by the state of the overall economy. There are other factors too. Personal taste and social trends also play a part in determining what’s popular. Let’s take a moment to […]
Hi Shaun, I always enjoy your articles. I hope you might be able to tell me something about the child’s knife and fork shown in the attached photos. They have been passed down in my family and I used them as a child. I will be 70 this […]
By Shaun Markey – As a collector and part-time dealer in country furniture and folk art, hooked mats made by the Grenfell Mission are always on my radar. It’s possible to find Grenfell work at church bazaars or yard sales in Kitchissippi. Grenfell hooked mats and mats have […]
By Shaun Markey – Antique collectors always have ways of adding more items to their collections, even when they run out of space. What’s a collector of antique furniture to do when he or she has filled all available space? Simple. Start collecting small-scale antique furniture! Little antique […]
By Shaun Markey – My last column about the stunning auction price of an amber fruit jar that brought $14,500 at a Canadian Internet auction likely caused some KT readers to take a second look at the old bottles stashed in their basements, attics and garages. Like all […]
By Shaun Markey – Twice a year, a friend of mine organizes an online auction of antique ginger beer bottles, fruit jars and stoneware. That’s essentially all he offers for sale in the auction. At first glance, one might think that’s an overly tight focus for collecting and […]
Hi Shaun, I’m wondering if you can tell me anything about these little dolls. They both came from a yard sale from a senior lady in Franktown in the early 80s. The small bobblehead kids are about 3” tall and have marked on their base: “Magneto Patented, Made […]
By Shaun Markey – I recently added this colourful “whirligig” to my folk art collection. In fact I had owned it many years ago after purchasing it here in Ottawa from the man who made it. At the time, I sold the whirligig to my brother who has […]
Hi Shaun, This piece was bought by my mother about 15 years ago at a secondhand store in Nevada. It’s painted on wood. It’s about 10” wide, maybe an inch or so thick. I don’t expect it has any value, but I do think it’s a neat little […]
Hello Shaun, This is a pine cupboard that we found many years ago. My husband refinished the piece as it was covered in several layers of paint. As you can see it has a single door. It is roughly 40” in height, 30” in width and 20”deep. I […]
Hi Shaun, I saw your article Collectable Treasures in the April 30, 2015 edition in the Kitchissippi Times. Attached is a photo of a vase which we would like to sell. Can you tell us how much it is worth. Thank you. Hannah Feldman Halpern – Hello Hannah! Antique […]
Hi Shaun, I was given this antique stereoscope by my mother. There is also a big tin of the cards that fit into this gizmo. I wonder about its value and resale possibilities. Many thanks for any expert opinions. Sabrina McTaggart – Hi Sabrina, You’re right! What you’ve […]
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