(The More Interesting) About Tony

Tony’s life in antiques began practically at conception, as his parents ran antique shops in England and Wales. By the age of 15, Tony had shown himself to be talented in spotting items others in the trade had been missing, and his parents began to depend on him as both a buyer and seller.  Today, Tony is fortunate to be working in the area he loves, sharing his passion and knowledge with others, and learning more with every interaction. He enjoys working with clients who have rare or valuable antiques, and those who appreciate their possessions primarily for their intrinsic and not their monetary value.  Tony’s estate and personal property appraisals reflect his passion and respect for antiques and personal property.  Ironically, while appraisals must “end in a number’, the number is of little consequence without the respect, passion and knowledge that the appraiser brings to the appraisal process.

Antique and Personal Property Appraiser,  Antique Historian, Lecturer, and More

Tony invests most of his time in the antique “trenches”, reading current journals, networking with other antique and personal property professionals and haunting antique shops and auction houses so that he has reputable and accurate information to share with clients on Vancouver Island and beyond!  As an experienced and passionate antique expert and historian with an expanding network of regional, national and international contacts and clients, he knows which antiques capture people’s interest, and who best to collaborate with to provide the best, most accurate and informative information possible.

Tony can be seen in action on CBC’s Canadian Antiques Roadshow, or in any number of charitable Roadshow-style events on Vancouver Island.  Tony writes a fortnightly “Antique Expert” newspaper column for Black Media’s ‘North Island Mid Week’, blogs about his passion for antiques, and shares his passion for antiques at public workshops (including North Island College’s ElderCollege).

How Tony’s Qualifications and Career Experience Serve You

Knowing the historical relevance of and current interest in antiques and personal property are what Tony’s efforts are all about. His integrity and passion for teasing out an item’s (his)story gives him not only a wide knowledge of antiques, but an extensive network of other antique experts and aficianados with whom he consults.  Providing accurate appraisals and information to clients and audiences on Vancouver Island (and beyond!) is a privilege Tony takes seriously as it allows him to earn a living following his passions.

Before becoming an appraiser, author and speaker, Tony invested years working in a myriad of positions in the antique and education worlds: from growing up in his parents’ antique shops, to running his own shop, to working as a French Polisher and apprenticing as an auctioneer to completing a Master of Arts in history and teaching undergraduates. Over the years, Tony has gained an up-close-and-personal understanding of how value is attached to personal items by owners, buyers and sellers. For many years, Tony has spent a great deal of his time trying to figure out an easier way to help people realize that each item has a number of monetary values that are completely separate from the sentimental and historical values attached to them.

Education

Tony earned a Master of Arts degree in European History at the University of Saskatchewan. His thesis explores the technological, social, and political factors that resulted in the rise of Highway Robbery in 18th Century Britain, and the mythos surrounding Dick Turpin.  The 18th Century still fascinates Tony as he is still particularly drawn to furniture and sterling silver from that era.