Don't throw out that old painting your grandmother left you. If you've been wondering whether it's worth something, Heather Pigat (BA Hons. '89) might know the answer.

    Pigat (née Hockings) is assistant director of fine art at Ritchie's Auctioneers & Appraisers in Toronto. Artwork handed down through a family for generations often finds its way into her hands. When it does, Pigat's job is to appraise, research and catalogue Canadian and European art.

    Appraising can mean a lot of research. "We have to determine who the artist was, and what the market is," she says. "Estimates are based on many things, including the artist's selling history, condition of the painting and the subject matter."

    So far, the most valuable work Pigat has handled is a tri-colour chalk drawing by the renowned 18th-century French artist François Boucher (it sold for $450,000). "The beauty of my job is that it's a delicious mix of scholarship, commerce, and customer relations," says Pigat. "We respect the items here for their artistic value, but they are also commodities on the market, so we look for a balance between scholarship and commerce."

    Not everything costs a king's ransom at an auction house, she says. "Affordability is in the eyes of the beholder, of course, but the goods sold here are actually very reasonable. You'd be surprised. Auction items are often much less expensive than they would be otherwise."

    Buyers range from antique dealers to walk-in business. "We had a young man come in looking for an antique diamond solitaire for an engagement ring."

    Speaking of diamonds, Pigat received one herself recently when she married Peter Pigat (who works in York's Facilities and Business Operations department). During her student years at York, Pigat worked part-time in Admissions/Liaison, and met her husband-to-be. "No, I didn't come to York to get my 'Mrs.' degree," she laughs. "We didn't date until after I graduated."

    After studying art history at York, Pigat took further studies in the conservation of art and artefacts and trained as an intern in museums in Florence, Italy, and Rochester, N.Y.

    "I didn't get here following a direct path from university," she says. "It's been a series of steps, but I'm really fortunate to be doing something I love."

Photo: Nadia Molinari