July 31, 2016
Numbers at the annual Kumbia Antiques Roadshow may have been slightly down this year, but interest levels remained as high as ever.
Visitors to the weekend-long event at Kumbia Hall got to enjoy expert appraisals of their treasured heirlooms by expert valuer Ray Dalton, as well as hear fascinating stories about the many other beautiful items brought along by other guests.
The Roadshow is hosted by the Kumbia Progress Association.
This year’s major innovation – a camera and projector which allowed the audience to view each item close-up as Ray talked about it – proved popular.
A second innovation that drew many favourable comments was the floral table centrepieces prepared for the event by Linda Matthews from the Kumbia QCWA as a craft project.
Ray, who ran his own antique business in Victoria for many decades until he decided to retire, said there had been several surprises at the Roadshow, as was the case every year.
One was a chess set carved from acacia root that was originally made in the UK, and had then made its way to Australia via South Africa.
Ray appraised its value at up to $1200.
Another was an oil stand in the shape of a Buddha, which Ray believed was made in Asia “close to a century ago” and worth between $400 and $700 to a collector.
He noted the bulk of the Buddha statue had been cast in a factory – and showed the join lines that enabled him to determine this – but found a base attached to the figure had been applied by hand.
“This is a lovely piece, and quite rare” Ray said.
Guests, who paid $25 for a single day or $40 for the full weekend, each got to bring along two items for Ray’s expert appraisal.
In between they were able to enjoy a morning or afternoon tea and lunch prepared by the KPA which was included in the price.
Kumbia Progress Association president Steph Stevens said attendance numbers at the two day event were “fairly normal” for the Saturday, but slightly down on Sunday.
“Someone said to me it might be because we’ve appraised all the South Burnett’s antiques over the last four years,” Steph said.
“But I think the cold weather we’ve had recently may have something to do with it.
“Still, I think everyone had a very good time. And we intend to run the Roadshow next year, too.”
