Trading Treasures
More than 40 vendors from five states will gather in Lyndora next weekend for the Greater Federation of Women's Clubs Intermediate League of Butler Antique Show and Sale. The event will be held at the Tanglewood Senior Center.
"In a time when antique shows are fading away due to lack of vendors, our event is thriving," said Anne Miller, chairwoman of the 57th annual charity fundraiser.
"We have vendors contacting us," she explained.
The show will feature the classic quilt raffle and preview gala with hors'deuvers on March 16.
This year's quilt is an Amish-made king-size quilt featuring tulips, bluebirds and hearts in mauves, blues and greens. The quilt will be awarded on Sunday at the close of the show.
Anabel Brunermer, who coordinated the dealers this year, said the variety of vendors will offer something for everyone."Dealers will be bringing Flow Blue, Victorian jewelry, vintage linens, Asian Oriental art, buttons, lithographs and much more," she explained."Back by popular demand will be our professional chair caning demonstration during the show. She will be answering questions and explaining the craft," said Miller.While many come to the show to wheel and deal, vendors like Dorothy and Andy Ringer of Jefferson Township say they simply love collecting."My mother gave us an antique music box that had belonged to my grandmother," said Dorothy. "That was the beginning of a long, fun filled life of collecting antiques," she added."We've been married for 57 years and this is something we enjoy doing together," said Dorothy."We'll be at the show with some of our stuff and it would be nice to sell some to make room for more — but we are going for the fun of it."There are so many wonderful people and great vendors that just meeting new people and being with our old friends over the weekend will make it worth the while," she said.The Ringers specialize primarily in country primitives, yet the duo has eclectic interests."I enjoy old mechanical tools and old toys and antique children's items," Andy said."I enjoy collecting vintage clothing and all sorts of accessories and undergarments that went with them," added his wife."We've always liked early kitchen items too," she said. "Early on we collected small items like coffee grinders, butter molds, wooden pantry boxes — items that would have been used in a farmhouse kitchen," she said."I enjoy anything that could have been used in a country house," she said."One place we lived, one of the neighbors thought I was hauling in used furniture with paint peeling because we were poor, but it was really because I love old paint furniture," she said.
The Ringers love history — especially local history — and they enjoy collecting artifacts with local historical significance."We buy from dealers but also from local sales in the area," said Andy.Some of the items the Ringers will be bringing to the show include a table that is a two-drawer scrub tub top from the early 1900s."We'll also have some yellow ware bowls and crockery from the late 1800s to mid-1900s," she said."We'll also bring some vintage clothing and vintage linens, pantry box and primitive candle sticks and some wonderful antique children's items such as toys, dollhouses and a variety of other objects," she said.One of Dorothy's special treasures is an old slave cupboard that came from Virginia. "It's not its value that makes it special," Dorothy explained. "It is the history behind it. The cupboard was on a plantation in Virginia that was inherited by the third generation who preferred money to material things. It was sold to a neighbor who put it in his barn for 19 years. He cleaned out the barn and sold it to a dealer who sold it to me," she explained."For some this is big business. For us it is more of a hobby," she said. "It is a reason to get out of bed in the morning and something fun for us to do together."Ringer anticipates that old paint furniture with original labels will be a big ticket item at the show this year."Firkins, which are sugar buckets prevalent mostly throughout New England, are another hot item," she said.Deals will be made at the antique show and sale, but the treasures the Ringers will be investing in will be memories and friendships."There aren't enough hours in the day to do all of the fun things that are involved in antiquing. I wouldn't trade the wonderful memories or the good friends that I've come to know over the years in the antique business," said Dorothy.
<B>WHAT:</B> The 57th annual Intermediate League of Butler Antique Show and Sale<B>WHEN:</B> 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 16; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 17; and noon to 5 p.m. March 18<B>WHERE:</B> Tanglewood Senior Center, Hansen Avenue, Lyndora<B>TICKETS:</B> Available at the YWCA, from GFWC Intermediate League members and at the door. Cost for Friday gala is $7 presale or $8 at the door. Cost for Saturday and Sunday admission is $5 presale or $6 at the door. Quilt drawing $1 per ticket.
