Antique Collector

12 Antique Collector Mr. Joe recently became interested in antiques. Maybe it's because of the numerous TV antique shows, or maybe it's because someone sold an ancient vase for more than one hundred thousand dollars. No matter what, Mr. Joe became obsessed with the idea of becoming a private collector. He dreamed of finding a rare piece one day -maybe a vase or a painting sitting out of view somewhere. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - that's Mr. Joe's motto. So, starting one Saturday, he decided to set out on a trip to visit small-town antique shops along Highway 117. He stopped whenever he saw a sign that said ANTIQUES. Mr. Joe was excited as he searched for the treasure he felt he was sure to find. There were so many items in each of the places he visited-European miniature statues, First Nation crafts, Chinese porcelains, paintings, teapots and even some Indian vases. He didn't know which ones to pick. As a novice collector, he was interested in all of them.

Finally, he bought an Indian vase, a Chinese tea set, a European painting and some Canadian sculptures. It was a happy journey. He couldn't wait to get home and invite his friends to share the joy of his collection. Among his friends, one had been collecting antiques for years. When he looked at Joe's treasures, he laughed and told Joe that five out of six of his items were new. They were not antiques! He then explained that a collector must have knowledge of history, art, and much more. It's the right knowledge and a pair of keen eyes that make you an antique collector. More- over, each piece in a collection has a story behind it. It's never like the experience of shopping at a mall. Joe was a bit embarrassed when he heard the comments. Nevertheless, it was a good start. Joe was determined to gain more knowledge and continue his explorations. He still hopes to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.