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- Editor’s
Note:
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- This
column is a regular feature in the Wayback Times in which my
husband takes interesting people out to lunch … and sends
me the bill.
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- (It's
a tough job, but someone has to do it!)
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- Send
us an e-mail if you have someone in mind for one of Peter Neilly's
interviews over lunch.
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- Peter Neilly is Out
to Lunch
- Breaking bread with
interesting people
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- Out to Lunch!
- with Peter Neilly
- Memo to the boss: Caught up with Marshall Gummer today,
fresh from his appearance on Citytv's Breakfast Television show,
and went to the Golden Rooster for our Out to Lunch sit-down.
It's a nice Thai restaurant in Colborne. Lunch was excellent
- receipt to follow. Marshall is an accredited member of the
Canadian Personal, Property Appraisers Group (CPPA), an antique
and collectables dealer and is credited with more than 30 television
appearances dealing with the subject of "appraising antiques."
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- Peter: Thanks for meeting with me, Marshall. Sandy
and I both watched your interview on Citytv and were quite impressed.
You did a great job. It must have been a lot of work to set up
and showcase all those pieces.
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- Marshall: My friend and I were up most of the night
at the hotel getting everything ready. At 2 a.m., she was still
stapling upholstery onto the seat of a chair we were taking.
We arrived at Citytv at 6 a.m. to set up. It's interesting the
way they operate that show. A lot goes on behind the scenes.
The co-host, Dina Pugliese, who interviewed me, was so
interested in a painting I was showing they had to come and grab
her to get her back in time for her next interview. It all looks
very smooth to the viewer, but it's really fast paced.
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- Peter: I'm always interested to find out what gets
people started in the antique business. What got you hooked?
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- Marshall: I started collecting when I was eight years
old. I was in a stamp club and a coin-collecting club and had
hockey cards like most kids, but my parents were responsible
for taking me to the next level. My dad was in the Armed Forces
and as a result we traveled all over the world. He got posted
in France and I think I visited most of the old churches in Europe.
We went to Rome and when you've been to places like the Sistine
Chapel, or the Louvre in Paris, the history has to rub off on
you.
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- Peter: Does being an appraiser and an antique dealer
set up a conflict of interests at all?
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- Marshall: Being a dealer helps me keep on top of things
in today's market. I go to over 100 auctions a year just to keep
up to date. Prices of antiques are changing rapidly and if you
are not current with your valuations, you are doing a disservice
to your client with your appraisal. And as a dealer, if you are
not buying right, you can lose a lot of money fast. Many things
that were valuable 10 years ago are not as popular today. Just
because it's old doesn't mean it's worth money. Tastes change
and prices reflect that. Some of the more valuable pieces that
I see today come from the 40s, 50s and 60s. A modern Herman Miller
chair can go for much more than a Victorian, or even a Georgian
period, chair today. Things change. I try and watch what younger
people (the twenty somethings) are buying and collecting. They
are the ones setting the trends for the future and they are not
buying things like Victorian furniture. There is still a market
for those pieces, especially for someone restoring a century
home, and, of course, if someone like Martha Stewart or
Oprah does a show on Victorian furniture the market will
bounce back instantly.
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- Peter: Usually when we bump into each other at antique
shows or auctions we end up talking about racing cars or your
Porsche, but I wanted to meet with you today to discuss your
views on collecting. When I was at your house last summer, I
couldn't help but notice you buy and collect pieces different
than most antique dealers.
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- Marshall: I try to be different and make an effort
to keep ahead of the game. I collect mid-century modern pieces
and concentrate on Canadian pottery and Canadian abstract art.
I remember years ago Tim Potter referred to me as Mr.
Tacky because of what I was buying at one of his auctions. I
took it as a compliment. I'm not into what I call name brand,
or signed piece buying. I purchase what I like according to my
own taste and my own sense of style. I am fascinated by some
of the small town local potteries across this country and what
they are producing. I have several pieces of Harlander pottery
that were produced by Theo and Susan Harlander
in Brooklin, Ontario. Theo would throw the pottery and his wife,
Susan, would decorate the pieces. I discovered their work a few
years ago. I was traveling across Canada doing an antique road
show-type appraisal tour and when I returned I noticed this piece
of pottery my sister had purchased and put in my booth for sale
with a price tag of $25 on it. I liked the look of it, but about
a week later I was reading your Wayback Times paper and noticed
a picture of a similar plate described as Harlander taken at
one of the shows with a price tag of $1,200. I remember driving
very fast to get back to my booth and change the price. That
got me interested in collecting Harlander pottery. I'm always
on the look out for good Canadian pottery and Canadian art glass.
There are some incredible pieces out there. Every day is like
a treasure hunt. The fun is in the search.
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- Peter: Do you have any advice or hints for novice
collectors?
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- Marshall: I really think the extent of a collection
should be limited to three or four items. As you obtain a better
piece, you sell off the one of lesser value. That way you can
manage several different types of collections at the same time
and still have room in your house to walk around. Buy what you
like, but never sell it unless you know what it is and what it's
worth. Do the research. I really like abstract art produced in
Canada during the 60s and 70s. I personally will buy a painting
just because it has powerful colours, like oranges or reds. Surround
yourself with things that make you smile, or laugh, or something
that brings back fond memories. I would also suggest people stay
away from anything that is specifically marketed as a collectable.
Terms like "limited edition" and "collectors edition"
are used to imply value and most times there isn't any real value.
I consistently see collector plates at auctions that people have
paid good money for selling for $5 or less. Rarity has a big
influence on value. One of the more valuable Shelly cup and saucers
is the dainty black pattern. Because of the colour, it wasn't
as popular and didn't sell as well as the dainty blue and, as
a result, there are fewer available. Rarity increases the value.
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- Peter: Thanks for meeting with me, Marshall. I enjoyed
our Thai lunch. As usual, Sandy gets the bill.
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- Marshall Gummer is a professional appraiser and can be
reached through his web site www.theappraiser.ca.
He has a booth set up and sells at Twindmills Antiques and Collectibles
in Colborne and will be showing at the Colborne Antique show
in May.
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