Riches Appraisals & Consult

Home
Canada
Toronto, ON
Riches Appraisals & Consult

Providing USPAP Compliant Appraisal Reports, Estate Management, Sales Consultations and Auctioneer Services for Fundraising Events

09/03/2026

[An Appraiser's Perspective]

Today we're looking at 1968 & 1975 Teamsters dues buttons / membership pins

Each of the two celluloid pinbacks displays the Teamsters logo with two horses facing outward atop a spoked wagon wheel. This design harkens back to 1903 - an ode to the original teamsters who operated horse-drawn freight wagons (before the rise of commercial trucks.)

During the mid to late 20th century, labor unions provided new buttons to members after union dues were paid. Colors were changed each year or every quarter to help quickly identify expired memberships on the job site.

--

Although modest in value, these types of pins are popular among labor history fans, collectors of political memorabilia, and current or former members of the Teamsters Union.

08/28/2026

Remembering the inspirational work of Yayoi Kusama ❤️

I still recall reading this quote for the first time and learning more about how Kusama viewed individual human identity - as isolated and burdened by ego.

“I am deeply interested in trying to understand the relationship between people, society, and nature; and my work is forged from accumulations of these frictions...”

Images taken at Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors in 2018

08/27/2026

Every Object Tells a Story 🔎

This post is the first in a series I've dubbed [An Appraiser's Perspective]

As a generalist appraiser, I receive requests to identify and place value on almost anything someone would collect. My specialization is decorative arts, fine craft and elements of contemporary design. However, I also enjoy researching militaria, coins and a wide variety of collectibles.

Photographed here is a commemorative medal of The Lusitania sinking (second version), created by German artist Karl Goetz. In August 1915, Goetz produced a medal that illustrated the sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915. It was intended to serve as a political cartoon in metallic form, but ultimately turned into a piece of propaganda.

The obverse shows The Lusitania sinking, while the reverse showcases a skeleton (as Death) standing at a ticket booth with a queue of passengers.

Similar examples are found in the permanent collection at The National WWI Museum and Memorial

05/26/2026

Eek! My copy of Ornamentum finally arrived today. I think this may be one of my favorite issues yet!!
Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen ✨️

POISONS & INTOXICANTS

The Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Ornamentum magazine explores some of the materials, objects, approaches, perspectives, and impacts of toxins and intemperance on Canada's decorative arts.

02/23/2026

While conducing research for a recent donation, I came across this novelty lighter designed to resemble a camera mounted on a tripod stand - again! It is surprising how often this particular model pops up my world of appraising. The Cont-Lite models were produced in Occupied Japan, 1940's-1950's

Although its resale value in the secondary market is minimal, it remains quite impressive. Upon close inspection, you can see the tiny compass located on the left hand side.

02/17/2026

Shown here is a modern interpretation of a piece that is believed to have been created by a woman named Patty Polk.

Polk originally created a traditional embroidered design with garlands of flowers and a stylized image of Washington’s Tomb. The sampler read "Patty Polk did this and she hated every stitch she did in it. She loves to read much more.”

Although these words cause me to chuckle, they also serve as a reminder that women did not always opt to engage in stitching. It was an activity imposed upon them by patriarchal standards that dictated a rigid definition of femininity and compliance with a woman's designated role.

Sampler Goals!

02/12/2026

As of early 2026, precious metals have experienced unprecedented trading levels, prompting many collectors to sell their prized possessions to capitalize on the market surge.

Recently, we discovered a collection of commemorative Canadian coins while working on an estate. Among these is the 2017 USS Enterprise $100 Canadian silver coin. That's right, it's a coin.

We all know The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) produces commemorative coins that honour Canadian history, wildlife, and significant anniversaries. However, it's rare to discover a three-dimensional Trekkie collectible like this one. Mintage 1000.

Would you sell this?

Image 1 - courtesy of mint.ca
Image 2 - courtesy of Riches Appraisals

02/07/2026

Honouring the life and legacy of celebrated sculptor and printmaker David Ruben Piqtoukun ᑎᕕᑎ ᐱᑐᑯ ᕈᐱᐃ (1950–2026).

PEOPLE OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN, 2017

Image 1 - courtesy of Riches Appraisals
Image 2 - courtesy of AGO - Art Gallery of Ontario

02/03/2026

Considering the current temperatures, the subject matter of this painting seems oh-so apropos❄️

Arent Arentsz (1585/86–1631)
SKATERS ON THE AMSTEL, c. 1620
Oil on wood

Art Gallery of Ontario, Bequest of W. Redelmeier, 1956

02/01/2026

Images taken during an early January art crawl in Toronto.

"Making his museum debut, Canadian artist Ranbir Sidhu brings his futuristic vision to the AGO with an exhibition of three new monumental sculptures.

Blurring the line between form and ideas, industry and intuition, Sidhu seamlessly weaves Sikh history and iconography into a contemporary visual language. His ambitious sculptural works are exquisitely engineered in a variety of metals."

Address

317 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 1G4

Website

https://richesappraisals.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Riches Appraisals & Consult posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Riches Appraisals & Consult:

Want your business to be the top-listed Business in Toronto?