IT’S every Antique Roadshow obsessive’s dream – that nana’s strange old brooch or ring might be their long-awaited ticket to riches.
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If you have shiny, old objects hiding amid your underwear and socks, a free antiques evaluation day on Saturday may be in order.
The event will be the second of its type to be held at MADE as part of its Bling – 19th century goldfields jewellery – exhibition.
But given the popularity of the first one, Patti Sedgwick from Mossgreen Auctions is bringing along a colleague to help her cope with the scores of intrigued owners of squirreled-away treasures.
“It’s piqued people’s interest to think about what pieces they’ve got at home,” said MADE director Jane Smith.
Ms Smith said a woman had a brooch encapsulating a picture of her grandmother, an historical figure who had been one of the women who stitched the Eureka flag.
Another person brought in an English cameo they thought was junk, but was worth $2500.
Ms Smith encouraged Ballarat residents to bring their antique jewellery along, regardless if they thought it was of goldfields origin or not.
“These rare and important pieces of Australian goldfields history are rapidly disappearing into melting pots and are frequently mistaken for only being worth their gold value when the opposite is true.”
The assessment day will be held July 2 between 2pm to 4pm.
Assessments are free for ticket-holders to the Bling exhibition.