The reporter got to hear Eric Dvorkin’s stories about the valuable Scottish painting and the purse that was given as a gift by a wealthy Russian czar.
As manager of the Canadian Collectables Roadshow, which makes a stop in Vernon this week, Dvorkin could have sat with the reporter all day telling such stories.
Dvorkin is one of five appraisers, all with different areas of specialty, in Vernon at the Best Western Plus Vernon Lodge Hotel this week who will sit down and appraise collectables, antiques and other items people bring in.
“We’ll be appraising antiques, collectables, jewelry, coins, and giving people offers,” said Dvorkin. “If they’re interested in selling, we buy it from them.”
Recently in Nanaimo, Dvorkin and his group came across a painting from Scotland, done by “a very famous artist.”
The roadshow’s appraiser valued the piece at between $30,000 and $50,000. The couple who owned the painting said the appraisal they had done was between $20,000 and $25,000.
Dvorkin’s group made the couple an offer – one of the highest they’ve ever made on any item – and the couple are mulling it over.
At another show, a man brought in what Dvorkin described as an old, solid gold purse, about 100 years old and “chainy.”
“The man said his mother married a czar from Russia who was a general in the army back then, came from a wealthy family, and gave the purse to his mom as a wedding gift,” said Dvorkin. “It’s valued at between $20,000 and $30,000 but it should be auctioned off at a place like Christie’s (Fine Art Auction).”
They don’t get pieces like that at every place they go to, said Dvorkin. They make offers all the time of $20, $50 or $100 on items.
“We buy vases, Victorian candlestick holders...,” he said.
The Canadian Collectables Road Show will be at the Best Western Plus Vernon Lodge Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
