On Oct. 18, the Galt Museum launches its latest exhibit, Treasures and Curiosities.
The Galt’s newest temporary exhibit features nearly 200 objects on display.
This exhibition opening will celebrate all the selections made by community participants and recognize the work of over a dozen volunteers who supported them.
Also, enjoy What’s it Worth? – an Antiques Roadshow-style event with a twist from 3-5 p.m., featuring Canadian Pickers star Sheldon Smithens, who was born in Lethbridge.
Smithens was the owner of Antiques and Fine Art and taught courses at the University of Calgary. He has also conducted appraisals for numerous museums across the Prairies.
“We’re so excited to host Sheldon and his talents. I really want to have the public come and meet him, bring an item to be appraised and check out the incredible Treasures and Curiosities exhibition. It’s going to be a great day to be at the museum,” says Community Program Coordinator Kristin Krein.
Smithens also appeared in venues across Canada on the CBC’s Canadian Antiques Roadshow, as well as a local host of the American series Treasure Seekers.
When folks bring their odds and ends to appraisal events, Smithens says, the charm of it all is you never know what’s going to surface. “It’s not unusual for somebody’s China – it might have been their mother’s or their grandparent’s China, so that’s quite common. Silverware and that sort of thing. Invariably, there are historical items that present themselves or items with a unique story behind them. It’s not always necessarily the most monetary, valuable items. Often there’s things that are just of unbelievable interest. That’s what I get a charge out of, and people like to hear if I have some insight.”
One of the most memorable moments for Smithens over the years happened at the conclusion of a roadshow event in Crowsnest Pass.
“A woman showed up, and she had too many things to even consider bringing something to me, but she asked me to come to her house, which I did right after the event closed. It was rather interesting because she came from a mining background,” Smithens recalls. “Her father and uncle were both miners in Crowsnest Pass. When they retired, their activity was to go to the little coal mines that no longer existed. Ghost towns, if you will, and collect anything they could.”
According to Smithens, she had the most amazing collection of things that have Crowsnest Pass history attached to them. “A whole house full.”
“They weren’t necessarily monetary huge dollars, but they were all interesting. Some of the pieces I ended up donating to the museum in Crowsnest Pass. That one certainly stands out. I’ve done these kinds of events a few times in Lethbridge before, which is kind of interesting.”
Smithens notes he was in the city for a Canadian Antiques Roadshow and participated in events at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.
Currently, Smithens has moved on from being a retailer, which he says is quite common these days because there are only a few antiques shops remaining. “There are more likely some antique malls, but the individual shop owner has virtually vanished off the surface.”
The appraisal marketplace has also evolved since he started in the business. “I mentioned that China set would invariably show up at an appraisals day. What might have been many hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars, now sadly translates into a more common market value into about a few hundred dollars, in the best-case scenario. The marketplace has changed so dramatically over actually quite a short period of time. But, I like to keep involved.”
Nowadays, Smithens is doing a little bit of buying and selling. “Primarily, I’m doing appraising. I’m pricing for estate sales. I’m doing a little auctioneering. I was at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery helping out with the art auction in the spring.”
Smithens notes his parents owned a jewelry store in Lethbridge in the 1950s. “I’m quite attached and I get back every time I can.”
“I’m lucky enough to, on occasion, be able to help the Galt Museum with pieces they need appraised. I’m personally excited to see the Treasures and Curiosities exhibit because the collection at the Galt is just amazing,” adds Smithens. “I think it’s close to 20,000 artifacts they have. I’m looking forward to going through the Treasures and Curiosities exhibit and to see what pops up to the appraisal day.”
If you’d like to get your own treasures or curiosities appraised by a professional, visit the sign-up link online at galtmuseum.com/events/treasures-curiosities-new-exhibit-launch-event.
The exhibit launch runs from 1-5 p.m.
