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The roadshow is all about people and about Canadians living the dream, learning all about their family heirlooms and antique items they have. Following the tremendous successes of the annual British Roadshow tour of Canada, with astounding family heirlooms and treasures being uncovered daily, cumulatively worth well in excess of $56,400,000.00 (Million) dollars, a NEW British Roadshow Canadian Tour is now underway and will make a stop at Londonderry Mall May 26-28, 2010

Travelling with the show is David Freeman. TV Presenter, Author and world renown International Art expert. He is recognized as North Americas busiest and most sought after specialist appraiser of art. Appearing alongside David is Maureen Wickham, a highly respectable Canadian expert of antiques whose specialist subject covers most antiquities, including ceramics, furniture and all those hand me down collectibles.

The British Artique Roadshow spent three full days at Londonderry Mall this past week. The below items were submitted by our listeners and Lesley Primeau weighed in on their value. These items were also appraised by the real appraisers, David Freeman and Maureen Wickham.

See if Primeau’s appraisal matches the professionals!
Congratulations go to those listeners that had their items appraised but we would also like to congratulate Sharon Lambe who won $250 Gift Card to Londonderry Mall just for submitting a picture of the antique harmonica.
English Tea Pot
It was my great-grandmother's, circa 1800's from England. There is writing on the bottom in gold but I can't read it.

Primeau's comments:
Beautiful but can’t read the writing???  Without the writing, we might as well serve the Tetley! 
Maureen's comments:
Throw out the tea bags and bring on the leaves! This is a wonderful English pot created before 1890. Its’ markings tell us the pattern is registered and we can see that there were several hand painters who were paid for their wonderful decorating skills. The cobalt oxide has “flowed” into the surrounding decoration giving this teapot a wonderful appearance even with the small chips that have appeared over time. It is a worthy family heirloom.
Tea Set
This is a tea set that I got from my parents. It has been in our family for many years. There are 9 cups and plates (handle broken in one cup) a teapot, Sugar and milk containers.

Primeau's comments:
I would love to see this item! Outstanding.
Maureen's comments:
A wonderful way to enjoy a cuppa! The care in the hand painted surfaces is evident with the detailed scenes. The markings on the set indicate an oriental beginning sometime prior to 1890 and since I don’t read, write or speak Japanese, Chinese or Korean the creator will remain unknown. This brings an interesting detail to light…..I enjoy what I do however there are certain areas that can belong to specialists! As David is to art and I am to “smalls”, there is a person who will know exactly what these cups and saucers are telling us. I will gracefully leave this one to the ultimate specialists!
Statue


Primeau's comments:
If this is meant to be a statue of The Madonna, then I say thumbs down.  Madonna never shows her legs and where is the halo? 
David's comments:
This young man comes from the early 1800’s and looks like it! His scimitar is missing along with his other weapon and there are large chips and cracks all over the place. I guess if I was 200 years old I’d be in pieces too! At his beginning he would have been truly imposing and shared the stage with a similarly decorated female counterpart. The value here is all sentimental and Rita is considering having him restored as he is part of her childhood.
Harmonica
Six-sided Hohner Harmonica

Primeau's comments:
Doesn’t it come with an accordion and a monkey?  Awesome item. 
David's comments:
Hohner have been manufacturing mouth organs since way back in 1871 and in all sorts of shapes ands sizes, musical keys and a variety of disguises for both home use, and professional purposes.
This six sided Blues harp is actually 6 different harmonica’s all in one with each mouth organ tuned to a different musical pitch ( C, D F G A and B flat) all joined together on a central hub. This was quite clever really as after its invention in the early 1900’s, the musician didn’t have to rummage around looking for a different harp whenever he or the band changed key !
Collectible? Well, its not as popular a collectible as a vintage guitar as some would perceive it as just an antique that’s been in someone else’s mouth!
Value?
Bottom line, what someone is prepared to give you for it as Hohner still make them, price $299.99

BUT, in a dramatic revelation, the experts determined that this very Harmonica may have been the one which was actually used by Larry Adler in his recording of Rhapsody in Blue and that its prior ownership could be really quite incredible.
Word has it that Bob Dylan may have used it for his recording of Blowin’ in the Wind.and some say it’s the very one which featured in the James Bond Movie You only live twice AND is the plaintive sound in the Good the Bad and the Ugly. But what makes it really famous is that it may have been lent to Stevie Wonder for his 1976 recording of Isn’t she lovely.

WOW, what an incredible pedigree this would be.
Vase
It is a vase brought from the netherlands accoording to my dad its in the family for over 150 years maybe longer. it went from father to eldest son. our family dates back to the 1500 and parts of our history has been pirates the family story goes that it came in our family that way. If that is true i do not know but that it is old is for certain. It is a copper vase hand painted and in mint condition.

Primeau's comments:
Arrr, matie!  Pirates? Where’s the gold! Dutch is good, 150 years is craziness. If it is really stolen pirates… bonus!
Maureen's comments:
THE ONE!!!! This is much nicer in person than in pictures and I love it!
It is a beautiful cloisonné vase that fits right in with the family pirate story. Cloisonne uses thin gold strands to make a design which is then filled in with various colours of enamels, kind of like paint-by-number. It is very detailed and tedious work but the results are fantastic. Willem can now put to rest any doubts about the family story and get out his eye patch and tri-cornered hat.
Royal Family Cookie Tin
Cookie tin with portrait photo by Marcus Adams of King George VI, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and their daughters Elizabeth (who succeeded him as Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret. We think the tin has "E.I. & Co Ltd. Shipley Yorks" on it.

Primeau's comments:
It needs cookies. I love the Monarchy. One thumb up for that and one thumb down for the lack of cookies.
Maureen's comments:
Every cookie manufacturer in Britain followed commercial suit with presentation containers like this to house their biscuits and all carried differing designs and celebrated a variety of people and occasions. Royal marriages, Coronations, Birthday’s and so on, so imagine the size of the Commonwealth back then and just how many there would have been made and shipped out ?
This one would have been popular right across the Commonwealth, let alone in the British Isles, the New King and his family heralded in a brand new beginning and was well loved and respected as monarchs, so imagine the volume of the product that was made and shipped to Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Millions of them!
As many still hose Granny’s buttons and bows and Grandad’s nuts and bolts, to attain dizzying heights in antique values is a long way off.

Expert opinion: Keep it safe for a couple of hundred years or so and it may be quite valuable one day!
Crumbs!
Commemerative Photo
Dedication photo of Peary's trek to the North Pole

Primeau's comments:
Not sure about this one. Perhaps if I saw it in person. 
David's comments:
Not a famous Polar shot we think. More likely one of the Greenland mapping expeditions leading up to the Polar race as the image is dedicated by hand in an unknown squiggle to one of the expedition’s financiers.

Funny how it was found in the garbage.
It’s in bad shape too. Makes you wonder why it was thrown out! Or does it?
Carved Decorative Table
Small, articulating carved decorative table. Purchased in Istanbul but supposedly carved elsewere

Primeau's comments:
Looks East Indian. Did it weather in the dry Alberta air? 
Maureen's comments:
Where does this tale unfold…ah, at the hinges! Nicely worn table with about a century under its’ top and likely a story about the pay rate and working conditions for those who did detailed carving work in India. Kyle bought it, he likes it, he uses it, what more is there to say?
Original Painting
This painting was painted by the ex court painter to the King of Albania, Prof F. A. Koko Mikoletzky. It is painted on what looks like masonite.

Primeau's comments:
Outstanding! An Albanian tree is better than an Alberta Tree. 
David's comments:
It doesn’t matter whether it was the court of King Arthur the professor painted for, the art buying public around the world still value his works at only what they are willing to bid on him. According to the up to date indexes of art prices this maxes out at about $1,200.00 Cdn. or so.
Pretty picture though.