Fort Washington and General St. Clair in Gravenhurst Ontario; Provenance Comes As A Bonus With Antique Purchases

Museum Plaque from Fort Washington found at a Gravenhurst Flea Market

General St. Clair

The back of the plaque shows on the left side a circle with names of two men who acquired the artifact

GENERAL ST. CLAIR, FORT WASHINGTON AND A MUSEUM PIECE IN MY HANDS

FLEA MARKET FIND - DOESN'T LOOK GREAT BUT HISTORY IS HISTORY; SELLING ANTIQUE WITH PROVENANCE

     THIS IS PROBABLY A LITTLE EARLY TO BE MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT WHAT THE HECK. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE SECURING ANOTHER GREAT AND HISTORIC GRAVENHURST LOCATION, FOR "CURRIE MUSIC SESSIONS-EVENTS," THE SMALL CONCERT SERIES WE WERE HOSTING HERE AT THE SHOP FOR THE PAST HALF YEAR. IT HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED JUST YET, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE ARRANGED IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, READY FOR THE SERIES TO RESUME AGAIN IN MAY. WE HAD TO SHUT THE EVENING SERIES DOWN, IN THE STORE, BECAUSE THE TOWN HAD SOME FIRE STANDARD ISSUES, AND WE DECIDED IT WAS JUST BETTER TO SURRENDER, AND SEEK OUT A BETTER AND LARGER VENUE FOR THESE POPULAR LOW-BUDGET CONCERTS, GIVEN BY SOME GREAT UP AND COMING TALENTS. AND NO, THE SESSIONS WON'T BE HELD AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE WILLPOWER, AT THIS TIME, TO FIGHT WITH TOWN ON ANY LEVEL, TO NEGOTIATE AFFORDABLE RENTAL RATES FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE'LL MAKE THAT AN ELECTION ISSUE THIS COMING OCTOBER. SO I'LL PROVIDE LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE NEXT WEEK. IT WILL BE GOOD NEWS I'M SURE.
     I NEVER GIVE UP ON THE POSSIBILITY, HOWEVER SLIM THAT MAY BE, OF FINDING A GREAT PIECE, OR COLLECTION, THAT CARRIES WITH IT AN ENORMOUS WEIGHT OF PERSONAL PROVENANCE. SURE, IT WOULD BE NICE TO OWN CHARLES DICKENS' WRITING DESK. WHAT MUSICIAN WOULDN'T WANT TO OWN AN ERIC CLAPTON, SHOW-USED GUITAR? WHO COULD SAY NO, IF OFFERED A CHANCE TO OWN A ROCKET RICHARD GAME-STICK? OR THE SKATES BOBBY BAUN USED TO SCORE A STANLEY CUP WINNING GOAL FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS? SCORED, MIND YOU, WHILE BAUN WAS SKATING ON A BROKEN LEG! NOT THAT THESE ITEMS ARE FOR SALE, BUT A FELLOW CAN DREAM CAN'T HE? BELIEVE ME, THERE ARE GREAT THINGS OUT THERE TO BUY, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES WITH PROVENANCE. I START WITH BOOKS, AND MOVE ON. I'VE BEEN COLLECTING SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BOOKS FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, AND I'M CERTAINLY INTO THE MULTI-HUNDREDS AT PRESENT. I HAVE SIGNATURES FROM GREAT AUTHORS AND PRIME MINISTERS. NOT ENOUGH VALUE THERE, TO RETIRE JUST YET, BUT NICE TO OWN NONE THE LESS.
     IN THE PAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS, I'VE OWNED A LOT OF NEAT STUFF WITH INTERESTING STORIES ATTACHED. NO MILLION DOLLAR PIECES BUT ITEMS WITH MILLION DOLLAR STORIES IMBEDDED. WHAT ABOUT OWNING LOCKETS OF HAIR, TAKEN DURING THE AUTOPSIES OF THE MURDERED MEMBERS OF THE BLACK DONNELLYS, OF LUCAN, ONTARIO, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CRIME STORIES IN CANADIAN HISTORY? APPARENTLY THEY EXIST. THERE'S AN URBAN LEGEND, THAT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MARLON BRANDO'S HOUSE, WOULD NEVER CASH ANY OF THE CHEQUES THE LEGENDARY ACTOR PAID WITH, PREFERRING INSTEAD TO HOLD ON TO THEM AS AUTOGRAPHS. BRANDO WASN'T THRILLED ABOUT GIVING AUTOGRAPHS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FINAL YEARS OF HIS LIFE, SO IT WAS BELIEVED THE CHEQUES, THAT HAD NEVER BEEN CASHED, WOULD BE WORTH WELL MORE THAN THE GROCERIES COST. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE STORIES SHARED BETWEEN DEALERS. AS WE LIKE TO SAY, "NEVER LET THE TRUTH GET IN THE WAY OF A REALLY GOOD STORY." PROVENANCE IS GROSSLY UNDER-RECOGNIZED AND UNDERSTOOD, IN TERMS OF ITS IMPORTANCE TO VALUATIONS. MOST UNDERSTAND THE TRULY VALUABLE PIECES, LIKE WHAT A GORDIE HOWE SWEATER WOULD BE WORTH, OR A BATON USED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL, BUT VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE LESSER VEINS OF PROVENANCE, WE DEALERS HANDLE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PROVENANCE CONNECTED TO SOMEONE OF SUPERSTAR STATUS, OR LITERARY, ARTISTIC ACCLAIM. PROVENANCE JUST FRAMES WHAT YOU OWN, AND IS A CHRONICLE OF WHERE A PARTICULAR PIECE(S) HAS BEEN IN ITS EXISTENCE; THE CREATOR, THE OWNERS IN SUCCESSION, AND INTERESTING CIRCUMSTANCES IN RELATION TO GREAT EVENTS AND CALAMITIES. DID A WELL KNOWN THESPIAN'S PORTRAIT SURVIVE A MAJOR FIRE? A FLOOD? THEFT? WHAT DAMAGE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO HAVING BEEN TOSSED OUT A WINDOW, OR FLUNG FROM A MOVING VEHICLE? WE'VE HEARD HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF STRANGE STORIES ATTACHED TO SOME OF THESE ACQUIRED PIECES, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY. YES, IT'S POSSIBLE SOME OF THAT PROVENANCE WILL BE IN THE SPIRIT-FORM, SUCH AS THE "ROCKING CRADLE" THAT WAS ONCE OWNED BY A CHILD, KILLED IN A TRAGIC HOUSE-FIRE. IS IT THE GHOST OF THE LOST CHILD THAT MAKES THE CRADLE ROCK ON ITS OWN, AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGH THE DAY? IS IT SPIRIT ENERGY, THAT INSISTS ON MAKING A VICTORIAN PORTRAIT OF A YOUNGSTER, HANG CROOKED DESPITE EFFORTS TO KEEP HER ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW? WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH ORGAN THAT OCCASIONALLY PLAYS BY ITSELF IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT? IS ITS PROVENANCE OF THE SPIRIT KIND? ANDREW ONCE BID ON A HAUNTED GUITAR, FOR SALE ON EBAY, AND SO DID A LOT OF OTHERS. SPIRITUALLY ENHANCED ITEMS ARE OFTEN HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER, FOR A VERY WIDE ARRAY OF PERSONAL REASONS. TAKE THE STRUGGLING RESORT OR ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, THAT PROMOTES IT HAS A RESIDENT GHOST. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, ATTENDANCE PICKS UP, THERE ARE MORE PATRONS SITTING AT THE BAR, AND THERE ARE EVEN GUIDED TOURS BEING PROMOTED. IT'S NOT THE KIND OF PROVENANCE I'M WRITING ABOUT TODAY, BUT SUFFICE TO SAY, IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING, EXCEPT A LOT HARDER TO PROVE EVEN WITH COMPANION VIDEO. I'VE HAD SIMILAR PIECES, BUT REFUSED TO SELL THEM. IT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH INTERESTING STUFF GOING ON AT HOME.
     I WOULD LOVE TO OWN THE CHAIR USED BY A PRESIDENT OR PRIME MINISTER. I'D LOVE TO OWN THE HOCKEY NET THAT A GREAT PLAYOFF GOAL WAS SCORED IN! WHAT A PLEASURE IT WOULD BE, TO OWN A LETTER SIGNED BY WASHINGTON IRVING, OR ABRAHAM LINCOLN. OF COURSE, I DON'T EXPECT TO FIND THESE ITEMS, AT A LOCAL FLEA MARKET OR YARD SALE. THEN AGAIN, AFTER YOU HEAR ON THE NEWS, ABOUT GREAT ART FINDS BEING MADE AT THESE SALES, IT GIVES AN OLD DEALER LIKE ME, THE FAITH TO CARRY ON THE HUNT. YOU SEE, LIKE THE REALITY OF THE FAMILY TREE, WHETHER WE RECOGNIZED THE SIGNIFICANCE OR NOT, WE OFTEN INHERIT PIECES THAT BELONGED TO SOME OF THOSE HEROES AND ROGUES OF THE PAST, AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS COME WITH WRITTEN CHRONICLES OF THE PLACES THEY'VE BEEN. CONSIDER A GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER, WHO HAPPENED TO SWIPE A PAINTING FROM A GALLERY. SO WHEN IT GETS PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, THE BENEFACTOR IN THE CONTEMPORARY SENSE, MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY FIND OUT HIS OR HER RELATIVE WAS A THIEF; ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS DOCUMENTED PROVENANCE AND OWNERSHIP LINEAGE ON A WELL KNOWN ART PIECE. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN THE POSSESSOR DECIDES IT'S TIME TO SELL THE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS AND RETIRE IN LUXURY. THE AUCTION HOUSES DOING THE RESEARCH, MIGHT FIND SOME DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT THE SUBJECT ART PIECE. THEN THE POOP HITS THE PROVERBIAL FAN.
     THE WATER-DAMAGED MUSEUM PLAQUE, ILLUSTRATED ABOVE, IS ONE OF THE THOSE GREAT ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE FINDS, YOU COULD BUILD A TELEVISION SHOW AROUND. THE SCREW HOLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME, ABOVE AND BELOW THE PICTURE OF GENERAL ST. CLAIR, ARE CLEAR EVIDENCE THE FRAMED HERITAGE MARKER, HUNG IN A MUSEUM OR PUBLIC BUILDING IN CINCINNATI, OHIO. WHAT WAS IT DOING AT A FLEA MARKET IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO? THIS ISN'T THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECT OF THE HISTORIC SIGN. IT'S THE NOTATIONS PRINTED ON THE BACK.
     ON THE REVERSE SIDE, SEE IMAGE ABOVE, THERE ARE TWO USES OF "FORT WASHINGTON, BUF.F. SIDE," ONE BEING PRINTED ABOVE, AND THE OTHER WRITTEN IN FAINT PENCIL, JUST BELOW, THERE IS "BUF. SIDE" PRINTED AN INCH OR SO BELOW THIS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THE PLAQUE, IS THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION TO TWO GENTLEMEN, WHO HAVE THEIR SIGNATURES ALSO PENCILLED ON THE BACK. THEIR NAMES ARE CIRCLED ABOVE THE DATE, BEING DECEMBER 7TH, 1944. THE NAMES WRITTEN WITHIN, ARE "JOHN HARKNER" AND "GEORGE BALBART".
    DURING A PRELIMINARY ONLINE SEARCH WE CAN FIND A HUGE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ABOUT FORT WASHINGTON, AND WE CAN LOCATE MANY AMERICANS, FROM THAT PERIOD, WITH THE NAMES HARKNER AND BALBART. BUT WE'VE JUST BEGUN, TRYING TO FIGURE-OUT THIS LITTLE HERITAGE PUZZLE. SOME THINK ANTIQUE DEALERS ARE ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. IT'S JUST NOT SO! PART OF OUR PROFESSION, INVOLVES HISTORICAL SLEUTHING, AND SOMETIMES, IT CAN BECOME EVEN MORE ENTERTAINING AND RECREATIONAL, THAN ACTUALLY STAFFING OUR RESPECTIVE SHOPS. WE'RE ALL HISTORIANS AT HEART, BENEATH THESE SHOP CLOAKS. THE HERITAGE MARKER HAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, BUT FOR AN ASKING PRICE OF A DOLLAR, IT WAS DEFINITELY COMING HOME WITH ME. WHENEVER WE FIND A PIECE THAT APPEARS TO HAVE A GREATER STORY BEHIND IT, THAN JUST BEING AN INTERESTING RELIC OF ART OR FURNITURE ETC., WE TRUST OUR SLEUTHING SKILLS, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT REST OF THE STORY. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T PAN OUT, AND WE JUST SELL THE PIECE WITH WHATEVER PROVENANCE WE KNOW, AND LET THE NEW OWNERS CARRY ON THE SEARCH. ON A MAJORITY OF THESE PIECES, WITH EVEN MINIMAL PROVENANCE, WE ARE ABLE TO INFILL THE CHRONICLE, TO MAKE IT MORE TEMPTING TO POTENTIAL BUYERS. THEY SEEM TO APPRECIATE THE DISTANCE WE GO, TO PROVIDE AS MUCH PROVENANCE AS POSSIBLE. AND INDEED, IT DOES INCREASE THE VALUE, IF THE INFORMATION CAN BE VALIDATED. WE COME AS CLOSE AS WE CAN, BUT WE ALWAYS SUGGEST MORE CAN BE DONE, AND GIVE THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CARRY ON THE SEARCH. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, WAS A BENCH WE PURCHASED FROM A WINDERMERE AUCTION, THAT HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN TAKEN FROM THE MUSKOKA LAKES STEAMSHIP, SAGAMO, WHEN IT WAS FINISHED ITS NAVIGATIONAL SERVICE. WE HAD ALL THE PROOF THAT IT WAS ORIGINAL, INCLUDING PHOTO EVIDENCE, AND THE NAME OF THE FORMER OWNER, WHO HAD RETRIEVED IT FROM THE STEAMSHIP. THIS WAS ALL PASSED ON TO THE MUSKOKA COLLECTOR WHO PURCHASED IT FROM OUR ORIGINAL BRACEBRIDGE ANTIQUE SHOP. THE BENCH WAS JUST A BENCH, WITHOUT THE PROVENANCE, THAT GREATLY ADDED TO ITS ATTRACTION AND VALUE.
     "FORT WASHINGTON, FIRST SO NAMED IN HONOR OF GENERAL WASHINGTON, BECAME CINCINNATI IN 1790, WHEN IT WAS SO CHRISTENED BY GENERAL ST. CLAIR. GOVERNOR OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, AFTER THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI, AN ORGANIZATION COMPOSED OF OFFICERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY." THIS IS THE INSCRIPTION ON THE PLAQUE.
     THE PLAQUE ITSELF APPEARS TO BE FROM THE 1930'S, JUDGING BY THE FRAME, GRAPHICS AND THE NAILS USED. IT MAY BE THE CASE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING, POSSIBLY A WEATHER EVENT, THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO SOME OF THE FORT'S MATERIALS, INCLUDING THIS PLAQUE. OR, POSSIBLY, THE PLAQUE WAS REMOVED AS A PRANK BY TWO MATES, WHO SIGNED THE BACK OF THEIR TROPHY. THESE KIND OF HAPPENSTANCE REMOVALS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE A PLAQUE FROM A HISTORIC SITE IN FRANCE, THAT WAS BROUGHT HOME FROM EUROPE BY A CANADIAN SOLDIER. THIS IS CURRENTLY BEING RESEARCHED, AND WHEN WE GET ALL THE PROVENANCE TOGETHER, I'LL HIGHLIGHT IT ON THIS BLOG. BUT HERE'S ANOTHER SIMILAR CASE TO CONSIDER.
     A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I PICKED UP A BADLY DAMAGED ENGRAVING, WHICH DATED WELL BACK IN THE 1800'S, ATTRIBUTED TO A BELGIAN ARTIST. THAT WAS THE EASY RESEARCH. THE VENDOR IN THIS PARTICULAR ANTIQUE MALL BOOTH, HADN'T TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THE FRAMED (UNDER GLASS) ART PIECE, AND IN FACT, THE PRINT FELL INTO MY HAND WHEN I PICKED IT UP. I COLLECT ETCHINGS AND ENGRAVINGS, SO IT DID INTEREST ME, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE NOTE ON THE BACK. THE FRAMED ENGRAVING HAD BEEN PULLED FROM THE RUINS OF A HOUSE, IN VICINITY OF THE GREAT BATTLEFIELD AT YPRES, DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, AND THE NAMES OF TWO CANADIAN SOLDIERS WERE PENNED ONTO THE BACK, AS HAVING RECOVERED THIS KEEPSAKE, BEFORE THE WEATHER, AND MILITARY BOMBARDMENT, COULD DESTROY IT ENTIRELY. ALTHOUGH IT WAS ILL-GOTTEN, THE FACT THEY PULLED IT OUT OF A DESTROYED BUILDING, CONSERVED IT FOR MANY MORE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY. I EVENTUALLY SOLD IT TO AN ART COLLECTOR.
    ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO PURCHASED A VERY INTRIGUING ART PANEL, OF TWO ROMANIAN MOUNTED MILITARY PERSONNEL, ON TWO GIANT GRAY HORSES, ARRIVING AT A SENTRY POST, LIKELY AT A BORDER CROSSING. THERE WAS A GUARD POSTED BY THE SMALL SENTRY BUILDING. THIS HAD BEEN PAINTED, ON A PORTION OF OLD PAINTED SIGN BOARD, THAT HAD BEEN UTILIZED, TO ENTERTAIN THE ARTISTIC INTERESTS OF ANOTHER ROMANIAN SOLDIER, WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE PAINTS AND A BRUSH. THE PAINTING WAS CREATED IN 1946, FOLLOWING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PAINTING, WAS ACTUALLY PRINTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ART WORK, ON THE FRONT, BUT BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME FADED, A FAMILY MEMBER, WHO OWNED THE ART WORK, REPRINTED THE SAME MATERIAL ON THE BACK OF THE PAINTING FOR POSTERITY. THE SOLDIER'S NAME WAS PRINTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AS WAS THE LOCATION OF THE SENTRY POST. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TRANSLATED. THIS PAINTING WAS SOLD TO A COLLECTOR OF MILITARIA SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT TOO, HAD BEEN FRAMED POORLY, AND FELL APART WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT IT IN THE ANTIQUE SHOP. THIS DIDN'T MATTER, AS THE FRAME WASN'T ORIGINAL TO THE PAINTING, AND IT'S NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OIL PAINTINGS, TO BE KEPT UNDER GLASS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR HUMIDITY CONTAINMENT AND THE GROWTH OF MOLD.
    AS I'VE NOTED PREVIOUSLY IN THESE BLOGS, REGARDING THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION, SUZANNE AND I, AND THE BOYS AS WELL, LIKE TO HAVE PROVENANCE ATTACHED TO WHAT WE SELL. MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. OFTEN, WE GET THE BONUS, OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF PROVENANCE WITH CERTAIN PIECES, RANGING FROM VINTAGE CANADIAN QUILTS, HANDCRAFTED RUGS, PAINTINGS, FURNITURE AND PAPER HERITAGE. AS A FURTHER EXAMPLE, CONSIDER THE ANTIQUE WOOD AND METAL BENCH, FROM THE MUSKOKA LAKES STEAMSHIP, SAGAMO, THAT I IDENTIFIED EARLIER IN THIS BLOG. THIS WAS A HIGHLIGHTED ITEM IN THE AUCTION LISTING, FOR THAT WEEK'S SATURDAY SALE, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN TWO LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING THE MUSKOKA SUN, HAVING A CIRCULATION OF ABOUT 40,OOO. WE KNEW THE FAMILY OF THE ESTATE, AS SUZANNE IS FROM WINDERMERE. WHAT WE COULDN'T BELIEVE, WAS THAT, WHEN THE BENCH CAME UP FOR AUCTION, IT ONLY GOT A FEW BIDS; OURS BEING THE WINNING AMOUNT. I WAS SHOCKED THAT IT WENT SO LOW. EVEN WITH PROVENANCE, THE CROWD DIDN'T SEEM TO APPRECIATE THE TRUE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SAGAMO BENCH. ALL THEY WERE LOOKING AT, IS THAT ITS PAINT WAS FALLING OFF AND SOME OF THE BOARDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MOOT POINTS TO US, WHO AT THE TIME, WERE MAJOR SUPPLIERS OF MUSKOKA COLLECTABLES, IN THE REGIONAL ANTIQUE COMMUNITY. I WAS OFFERED A HUNDRED DOLLARS, BY SOMEONE WHO HAD ARRIVED LATE, WHILE I WAS HAULING THE BENCH TO THE CAR. LATER, AT THE SHOP, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE COLLECTOR / BUYER, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF VALIDATION, THAT THE BENCH WAS INDEED A SAGAMO RELIC. WE EVEN KNEW HOW THE FORMER OWNER ACQUIRED THE BENCH. AND YES, IT VERY MUCH ADDS TO THE VALUE OF AN ANTIQUE OR COLLECTABLE PIECE. THE BENCH, BASED ON ITS ANTIQUE VALUE, WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH NO MORE THAN FIFTY BUCKS. THE FACT IT HAD PROVENANCE ATTACHED, INCREASED THE VALUE BY THE HUNDREDS. NAVIGATION COLLECTABLES ARE STILL HOT OUT THERE, AS ARE RESORT PIECES REFLECTIVE OF THE MUSKOKA TOURIST EXPERIENCE.
     SOME OF THE MORE PRESTIGIOUS PIECES WE'VE SOLD, INCLUDE THE MINETT-SHIELDS WORK CABINET, FROM THEIR BRACEBRIDGE WORKSHOP, WHICH INCLUDED THE ACTUAL WORK FORMS, STAMPED "MINETT-SHIELDS;" WITH THE NAMES OF THE BOATS WORKED-ON, PRINTED ON EACH CARD. THIS WONDERFUL OLD CUPBOARD WENT TO A MINETT-SHEILDS COLLECTOR. THE PROVENANCE ON THIS CUPBOARD WAS LANDMARK, COMPARED TO THE TINY AMOUNTS WE HAVE ON MOST PIECES IN THE SHOP. PRICE IN THIS CASE, WENT UP, BECAUSE OF THE CONFIRMED HERITAGE OF THE CUPBOARD.
     I PURCHASED A SMALL, ORNATE CHAIR, WITH A PAINTED MEDALLION BACK, FROM SCHOOLHOUSE ANTIQUES, IN THE HAMLET OF MALTA, JUST SOUTH OF GRAVENHURST, (HIGHWAY 11), THAT WAS, ACCORDING TO THE SELLER, ORIGINALLY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON. THE STORY ATTACHED, WAS THAT A FORMER GOVERNMENT STAFF MEMBER, IN WASHINGTON, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, LIKE OTHERS WHO WORKED THERE, TO PURCHASE SOME FURNISHING THAT WERE BEING CHANGED FOR MORE CONTEMPORARY CHAIRS AND TABLES. THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL HAND PAINTED SCENE ON THE MEDALLION, AND THE CHAIR DATED BACK TO THE MID 1800'S. HOW DID IT ARRIVE IN MUSKOKA? APPARENTLY THE NEW OWNER OF THE CHAIR, HAD BROUGHT IT TO A COTTAGE, SOMEWHERE IN THE REGION. AN ESTATE SALE, LONG AFTER THIS, LIBERATED THE LITTLE CHAIR, WHICH APPARENTLY WAS ONE OF TWO THAT HAD BEEN PURCHASED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. THIS IS HOW IT ARRIVED IN THE LITTLE MALTA ANTIQUE SHOP. THE STORY MADE SENSE, AND THE CHAIR DEFINITELY WAS THE REAL MCCOY, AS FAR AS AGE AND INVESTMENT VALUE. BUT BEFORE THE DAYS OF INTERNET SEARCHES, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A WORLD WIDE WEB, RESEARCHING THE PIECE TOOK WAY MORE TIME AND EFFORT THAN I COULD AFFORD, OR CONDUCT ON MY OWN. I WAS NAIVE ABOUT THESE SITUATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY, LIKE MANY DEALERS, JUST GAVE UP TRYING TO INFILL ALL OF ITS PROVENANCE. SO I SETTLED ON A REASONABLE MARK-UP FROM THE HUNDRED DOLLARS I HAD PAID FOR IT (1977), AND CRIED SOFTLY WHEN A FURNITURE COLLECTOR SNAPPED IT UP, FIVE MINUTES INSIDE OUR SHOP DOOR. THIS WAS WHEN OUR FAMILY OWNED "OLD MILL ANTIQUES" ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, IN THE FORMER HOME OF DR. PETER MCGIBBON AND HIS WIFE. I MADE A GOOD PROFIT AND THAT WAS FINE AND DANDY. EVERY DEALER ON EARTH, THEN AND NOW, WORRY ABOUT SELLING OFF A VALUABLE PIECE, FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE. IT'S OUR OWN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD, YOU MIGHT SAY. DAMN THING IS, YOU NEVER GET OVER IT. YOU KEEP THINKING BACK AND WISHING YOU STILL OWNED THE PIECE. AND IN THE CONTEMPORARY SENSE, YOU WANT TO PROTECT ALL THE UNIQUE PIECES YOU COLLECT FOR RE-SALE. THE REAL DEFINING SITUATION HERE, IS WHEN WE CAN COMPLETE OUR RESEARCH, AND PROVIDE ABSOLUTE PROVENANCE; WHICH AT THE SAME TIME, SUPPORTS OUR VALUATIONS, AND REMOVES THE "WHAT IFS" ENTIRELY. AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE CAN'T DO THIS FOR MANY ANTIQUE PIECES, BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WE WILL FOLLOW EVERY POSSIBLE LEAD. IF IT DOESN'T ADD ANYTHING TO THE VALUATION, IT WILL AT LEAST, INCREASE THE APPEAL OF THE ITEMS FOR CUSTOMERS.
     AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, WAS WHEN WE RECENTLY SOLD TWO BUFFALO ROBES, BOTH WITH CLEAR PROVENANCE. BOTH HAD CONNECTIONS TO WESTERN CANADA, AND WOUND UP AT FARMSTEADS IN NORTH MUSKOKA. WE HAD THE FAMILY NAMES, AND THE YEARS THEIR KIN FOLK MOVED FROM WESTERN CANADA TO ONTARIO. WHILE WE COULDN'T ESTABLISH THE MAKERS OF THE ROBES, WE DID KNOW THE COMMUNITIES FROM WHICH THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED, AND THIS WAS TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL EVALUATING EACH PIECE. OF COURSE, CONDITION IS ALWAYS THE PRIME CONSIDERATION, AND IN BOTH CASES, THEY WERE DUSTY BUT WELL CONSERVED. THEY WERE SOLD TO AN ANTIQUE LOVER, WHO HAVE JUST PURCHASED AN ORIGINAL LOG CABIN, AND THE BUFFALO ROBES WERE GOING TO BE USED ON THE BEDS. ROBERT, ANDREW AND I TRIED THEM, ON A FEW CAMPING VENTURES, IN THE AUTUMN SEASON, AND WE ACTUALLY COULDN'T TAKE THE HEAT THEY KEPT IN, FROM BODY WARMTH. BOTH ROBES DATED BACK TO THE 1890'S, AND WERE MADE IN CANADA.
     WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE WILL ASK SELLERS, FOR ANY PROVENANCE THEY HAVE ON THE PIECES THEY ARE OFFERING FOR SALE. ON GENERAL COLLECTABLES, AND MOST SMALL PIECES, WE'RE NOT LIKELY TO SECURE TOO MUCH RELEVANT INFORMATION. BUT SOME TIMES, IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE REMARKABLE WHAT YOU CAN FIND OUT. A VINTAGE DESK IS JUST WHAT IT IS, UNLESS IT HAPPENED TO BELONG TO A WELL KNOWN AUTHOR, OR MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT CAN BE VALIDATED. A HUNDRED DOLLAR DESK CAN INCREASE BY TEN, IF THERE IS THIS KIND OF PROVENANCE. THIS MAY SEEM OBVIOUS TO STATE, BUT EVEN ON THE LESSER LEVEL, THAT IT BELONGED TO A REGIONAL WRITER, A REGIONAL MILITARY COMMANDER, OR INDUSTRIALIST, CAN ADD SIGNIFICANT VALUE. I HAD THE CHANCE TO PURCHASE A LOCAL AUTHOR'S BAGPIPES FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. I DIDN'T HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, OR EVEN ONE HUNDRED. THERE WAS A SENTIMENTAL REASON TO OWN THEM, BECAUSE I KNEW THE AUTHOR, BUT THE PROVENANCE ATTACHED, WOULD HAVE ONLY JUSTIFIED THE TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR ASKING PRICE. I JUST COULDN'T JUSTIFY THE EXPENSE, WITH NO CHANCE TO PROFIT FROM THE BAGPIPES DOWN THE ROAD. ON THE OTHER HAND, A PIPE, CANE, HAT, SMOKING JACKET, SUIT OR PAPER HERITAGE, WITH THE SAME AUTHOR'S PROVENANCE, WOULD BE WORTH OWNING BECAUSE OF INTIMATE ASSOCIATION; WHEREAS A DISH, GLASS BOWL, LAMP OR ASHTRAY, WOULDN'T BE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN ACTUAL COLLECTABLE VALUE, DESPITE PROVENANCE. WE WOULD PROBABLY MAKE REFERENCE TO THESE PIECES, WHEN PUT UP FOR SALE, AS BEING "FROM THE ESTATE OF," BUT IT WOULDN'T ADD TOO MUCH TO THE VALUATION, UNLESS IT WAS THE FORMER PROPERTY OF A WELL KNOWN MOVIE STAR, WRITER, ARTIST OR MUSICIAN.    NOW IF IT WAS A GUITAR OWNED BY A FAMOUS MUSICIAN. STAND BACK. THE PRICE WILL ASTONISH YOU. DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL SELL FOR THE INFLATED PRICE, DUE TO EXCEPTIONAL PROVENANCE, BUT THIS IS USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS. WE HAVE SOLD A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT "FORMERLY OWNED AND PLAYED BY" INSTRUMENTS, EVEN IF THE PROVENANCE HAS BEEN OF SLIM PROPORTION. NEW OWNERS WANT TO KNOW ALL THE PLACES ITS BEEN PLAYED, AND BY WHO, IN THE PAST; AND IF WE CAN WEASLE THE INFORMATION OUT OF A FORMER OWNER, WE WILL PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION. WHEN IT COMES TO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL PROVENANCE, WELL, THEY USUALLY BECOME PART OF OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION, SO WE CAN SHARE THE PIECES WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AT NO COST. LIKE OUR TOM THOMSON TENOR BANJO, MENDELSON JOE'S 1969 GUILD GUITAR, BLUES SENSATION, JIMMY BOWSKILL'S ACOUSTIC GUITAR, A GUITAR ONCE OWNED BY COUNTRY SINGER SMILEY BATES, AND A GIBSON ACOUSTIC, USED AS BY THE HOUSE BAND ON CBC'S TELEVISION SHOW FOR KIDS, "ROMPER ROOM." WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER NEAT INSTRUMENTS WITH STRANGE STORIES ATTACHED. ALL WHICH GET HANDLED A LOT THESE DAYS, BY ROVING MUSICIANS AND CURIOUS OTHERS. NOW THAT REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY.

ONE OF MY FIRST COLLECTABLE PRIZES - AN EASY BAKE OVEN - ACQUIRED ON A NOT SO SAVVY TOY-TRADE

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHY I WANTED A GIRL'S TOY - AT LEAST THEN IT WAS

     I HAD TO BE IN MY LATE BURLINGTON YEARS, PRIOR TO 1966. I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 1964, THAT I MADE THIS INCREDIBLE TRADE. SOME TOY CARS AND A BASEBALL BAT FOR AN "AS-IS" AS FOUND, "EASY BAKE OVEN." I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS THIS BRAND. IT CAME WITH SOME CAKE MIXES, BUT BY THE TIME I MADE THE BIG DEAL, WITH ONE OF MY GIRL CHUMS, ON HARRIS CRESCENT, IT WAS A CLEARLY A HEAVILY USED TOY, WITH LOTS OF SCUFFS AND CRACKS, WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY STALE REMAINING WHITE CAKE MIX. IT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME. I WAS KING OF THE WORLD FOR MAKING WHAT COULD ONLY BE THOUGHT OF, AS A SENSIBLE, GOOD VALUE TRADE. EVEN THOUGH I GAVE AWAY MY BASEBALL BAT, WHICH CERTAINLY SCREWED UP OUR SAND LOT BASEBALL GAMES, WHAT KID WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE SAME TRADE? WELL, FOR ONE THING, NONE OF MY FRIENDS APPRECIATED THE FACT I TRADED AWAY THE CLUB BASEBALL BAT. THEY HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD BALL, A FEW RATTY OLD GLOVES BUT NO BAT. WHAT A STUPID TRADE. THEY ASKED, AND ASKED FREQUENTLY. "WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH A GIRL'S TOY?" HONESTLY, IT NEVER CROSSED MY YOUNG MIND, THAT THE BAKE OVEN, HEATED WITH AN ORDINARY LIGHT BULB, WAS FOR GIRLS ONLY. I WASN'T A BIG TELEVISION WATCHER, AT THAT TIME, SO I MUST HAVE MISSED THE GENDER TARGETING FOR THIS PARTICULAR TOY. ANY WAY, IT WAS A USED TOY ITEM, SO PRESUMABLY, THE GIRL-THING WAS ONLY ON THE INTIAL PURCHASE, NOT ON SUBSEQUENT SECOND HAND TRADING. I USE THE SAME LOGIC TODAY FOR GOD'S SAKE. IT HAS SERVED ME WELL. JUSTIFY. WHEN THAT FAILS, JUSTIFY MORE VOCALLY.

     MY MOTHER WAS SHOCKED SPEECHLESS, WHEN I SHOWED UP AT OUR APARTMENT DOOR, CARRYING THE OLD WATER-DAMAGED BOX, THE OVEN WAS IN, AND HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR HER SON……WHO APPARENTLY HAD SOME INTERESTING QUIRKS SHE HADN'T BEEN TOTALLY AWARE OF, IN THOSE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF OUR PARENT-KID RELATIONSHIP. "WHY DID YOU TRADE YOUR TOYS AWAY FOR THIS BROKEN OVEN?" SHE ASKED. "IT'S NOT BROKEN," I ANSWERED, HOLDING IT UP FOR CLOSER INSPECTION. MY MOTHER CALLED ANYTHING THAT WASN'T NEW, "BROKEN STUFF THAT NOBODY WANTED." MERLE WAS ABUNDANTLY AWARE OF MY PENCHANT FOR BRINGING HOME ODDITIES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND BEYOND, BUT THIS ACQUISITION WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO HANDLE DIPLOMATICALLY. SHE WAS USUALLY PRETTY GOOD, EVEN WHEN I BROUGHT THINGS HOME, LIKE RUSTED CAR BUMPERS FROM THE RAMBLE CREEK RAVINE. OR SLIME COVERED BASEBALLS I PULLED FROM THE CREEK, TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION OF GRASS STAINED AND RIPPED BALLS, I FOUND ABANDONED IN THE SCHOOL YARD. SHE JUST LOOKED AT THIS OVEN, AND MUMBLED TO HERSELF, ABOUT HAVING TO HAVE A TALK WITH MY FATHER ABOUT THIS ONE. AS I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT, I KEPT BADGERING HER THAT AFTERNOON, TO HELP ME BAKE THE CAKE INCLUDED IN THE BOX. IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, OF WORKING HER INTO SUBMISSION, BUT SHE FINALLY AGREED TO GIVE IT A WHIRL.

     THE CARDBOARD BOX SMELLED MUSTY. EVEN THE PLASTIC STOVE SMELLED OLD, AS MERLE SAID, BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY HAD STORED IT IN A WET BASEMENT. WHEN I HANDED THE CAKE-MIX PACKAGE OVER TO MERLE, I KNEW IT ALSO SMELLED LIKE THE STOVE AND THE BOX. MUSTY. WELL, BLESS HER SOUL, SHE MIXED UP THE CAKE IN THE LITTLE BOWL PROVIDED, AND WITH MY ASSISTANCE, DRAINED IT INTO A SMALL TIN CAKE PAN. THE STOVE WAS PLUGGED IN, THE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE CAKE PLACED IN THE OVEN TO COOK. WE DIDN'T HAVE A MANUAL WITH THE STOVE, AS IT HAD APPARENTLY LIQUIFIED, WHEN THE BOX WAS HIT BY INCOMING WATER IN MY FRIEND'S BASEMENT. IT WAS THERE ALL RIGHT, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX, BUT IT WAS NOW PART OF THE CARDBOARD LINER ITSELF. SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, IS THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING STANDARD BAKING RULES, NOT THE METHOD FOR COOKING IN THIS CHILD'S OVEN. SO A HALF HOUR LATER, THE CAKE WAS STILL A COOL LIQUID IN A TIN PAN, IN THE LIGHT OF A WEAK BULB. WHAT WE FOUND OUT LATER, IS THE BULB WAS ON ITS FAREWELL GIG, AND WAS OPERATING AT MUCH LESS STRENGTH, THAN WHEN IT WAS NEW. OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT MY TRADING PARTNER TOLD ME THE NEXT DAY…….WHILE I WAS LICKING MY WOUNDS, FOR BEING A LOUSEY TOY TRADER, AND HAVING MASSIVE BOWEL ISSUES; POSSIBLY FROM THE LEFTOVER CAKE MIX, THAT MERLE FINALLY HAD TO COOK IN HER OWN OVEN, TO PLEASE HER IMPATIENT KID. WELL SIR, WHAT SMELLED MUSTY, ALSO TASTED MUSTY. I ATE MOST OF THE CAKE, WITH MUSTY ICING, AND EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, I BECAME A FREQUENT POOPER…..AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH A BAKED GOOD I REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE CONSUMED. MERLE ONLY HAD A TASTE, SO SHE WAS SPARED. THE POOPING CAPER WASN'T AS MISERABLE, AS IT WAS TRYING TO RE-TRADE THE OVEN BACK FOR MY BALL BAT, SO WE COULD GET A GAME GOING. "YEA, BUT YOU'VE EATEN THE LAST CAKE," MY FRIEND RETORTED, LOOKING DOWN INTO THE MUSTY BOX. "NOW IT'S JUST A PLASTIC BOX WITH A LIGHT IN IT……WHAT GOOD IS THAT," SHE ASKED, BATTING HER EYES AFFECTIONATELY, STOPPING MOMENTARILY, TO USE HER BASEBALL BAT TO KILL A BUG CROSSING THE ROAD. I HAVE NEVER, EVER BEEN GOOD AT TRADING, AND IT IS OUTLAWED IN OUR SHOP EVEN TODAY. THAT WAS MY FIRST AND LAST TRADE, AND IT GAVE ME THE TROTS…….SO THAT WAS MY IDEA OF DIVINE INTERVENTION; "TEDDY CURRIE…..THOU SHALT NOT BE SUCKED-IN TO STUPID TRADES FOR THINGS YOU DON'T NEED." CONSIDERING I HAD A FLOATING IDEA OF WHAT "MY NEED WAS," AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I JUST DECIDED TO BUY WHAT I WANTED, WHENEVER FUNDS WERE AVAILABLE. SUZANNE CAN ATTEST TO MY GREAT AND ENDURING FEAR OF TRADING ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S DONE THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY, AS IT HAS BEEN TRADITION SINCE BIBLICAL TIMES. THIS IS ONE CASE, WHERE I'M GLAD TO BE DIFFERENT.