There’s never been a better opportunity to do some spring cleaning, particularly when an old painting, stamp or vase could offer a significant financial reward.The Canadian Collectors Roadshow is making its way to the Comox Valley, and manager Eric Dvorkin says it is the perfect opportunity to find out what a collectible, antique or household item might be worth.”Come on in and bring in any item and we’ll take a look and appraise it. It’s a great way to get rid of things and sometimes people just don’t know what they really have,” he noted.Dvorkin and his appraisal team have been travelling across Canada with the show, and have been in B.C. for the past eight months. He believes this is the first time a show like this has been in the Comox Valley, and is looking forward to the wide variety of items people will bring.”We’ve has many items from the early to late Victorian era (1800s) such as vases, dishes, a lot of bayonets and things from World War One and World War Two. We’re looking for anything such as memorabilia, old piggy banks … dolls, native items; pretty much anything,” he noted.The only stipulation for interested sellers is that the item must be older than 1930.People can register their item, and then have it appraised by individuals who specialize in certain collectables such as antiques, jewelry, coins and silver, explained Dvorkin. The item will be examined, and then the client has an option to sell or walk away.Dvorkin said he recently appraised a painting which was worth between $30,000 to $50,000, and when the show was in Nanaimo last month, a client brought in a 100-year-old solid gold purse, which he believes was once owned by a Russian czar. He says he is always surprised by what people have hiding in their homes, and loves finding hidden treasures.The Canadian Collectors Roadshow will be at the Best Western Westerly Hotel in Courtenay from April 25 to 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m Monday through Thursday, and until 5 p.m. Friday. photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record