Top antique and art appraiser makes stop in the Southern Interior

KELOWNA – Here’s your chance to find out if that old painting hanging in the bathroom is really a Picasso or not.

Professional antique and art appraiser Peter Blundell is making a one-day stop in Kelowna where he will appraise those uncertain antiques, collectibles and art pieces and tell you whether they are treasure or trash.

Admission is free to the day-long event at the Kelowna Art Gallery. For a $50 fee, Blundell will meet with you and try to establish the value of your item. Each session is 15 minutes and up to three items can be appraised during each session.

Blundell can also appraise large furniture pieces that cannot be brought to the gallery but you must bring a portion of the piece, such as a drawer, plus a photograph and the dimensions.

While Blundell is a noted appraiser, he still has some limitations and participants are warned that he can’t appraise jewelry, coins, stamps, guns and wristwatches. He will however, appraise pocket watches and swords.

He also has a time limit. Nothing over 400 years old will be assessed and the assessments cannot be used for insurance purposes.

Treasures From The Attic begins 10 a.m. Saturday, September 19 at the Kelowna Art Gallery, 1315 Water Street. To book an appointment for an assessment, call 250-762-2226.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.