A tradition continues next weekend with the opening of the 67th Annual GFWC Intermediate League of Butler Antiques Show and Sale.

Elaine Linamen of Butler Township, the event’s general chairman, is excited for what the show at the Tanglewood Center in Lyndora will deliver.

“We will have at least 42 dealers bringing the finest collectibles in jewelry, furniture, glassware, primitives, china, linens, quilts and so much more,” she said.

Show proceeds will benefit local organizations.

“We hope to be able to make sizable donations to the Associated Artists of Butler County, Kid’s Weekend Backpack Program, Butler Public Library, Butler County Historical Society, Community Health Clinic of Butler County and many others,” Linamen said.

There will be a cash door prize and quilt raffle.

“Our quilt is a queen size in the variation of the wedding ring pattern and includes a pillow tuck. It was made by the First United Methodist Church quilters,” she said.

There will be three new vendors this year, Linamen said — Stroker Antiques, which features quilts; Howard Antiques, which has a wealth of general antiques; and Bahnak Antiques.

Bahnak Antiques owners Jerry and Toni Bahnak are no strangers to antiques or the Tanglewood show, although this will be their first time as vendors.

The pair entered the antique business under the tutelage of Jerry’s aunt, Sybil Bahnak.

Well-respected dealer

“She did the Butler show many years ago, and we enjoyed helping her under the name ‘Candlewood Antiques.’ She has been a well-respected dealer in the tri-state area for 50 plus years,” said Toni Bahnak, noting Sybil Bahnak just retired this past year at the age of 94.

Jerry and Toni Bahnak have been married for 35 years and have been collecting antiques for longer than that.

“Our first date was actually an antique show,” said Toni. “We discovered on that date we had a lot in the common and a lot of the same interests.”

Some of their first purchases were wooden planes, antique scales and H.J. Heinz pottery.

They travel showing and selling while maintaining a retail space at the Laughlintown Antique Mall in Ligonier.

They enjoy collecting 19th century paintings, glassware and early country furniture.

“Jerry and I are both taken in by landscapes, primarily by the simplicity and peace they evoke of a simpler time. They bring a sense of calm to our home with their beauty,” she said.

While they don’t have a favorite painter, the Bahnaks chose their collection based on what brings them pleasure to view.

Heisey glassware is their favorite to collect. “We find the craftsmanship to be superb and all the patterns to be unique and beautiful,” Jerry said.

Their love of early country furniture is about history and aesthetics of a piece.

“Early country furniture utilized the wood of a particular region where it was made; pieces could be identified as to their origin and age. Construction techniques and design principles also helped to identify the period in which they were made,” said Jerry.

“Back then things were built to last, which is why these pieces are still available for our use and enjoyment,” he added.

Jerry also has a fondness for H.J. Heinz pottery, glassware, wood, tin and advertising, and he doesn’t part with it.

“Mr. Heinz was a man of great insight and marketing skills. His products are still known and sold worldwide because of his attention to quality and advertising,” he explained.

“Toni loves scales of all kinds, especially postal scales. She is fascinated that the Postal Service did not have a standardized postal scale. She has at least 8 different types of antique postal scales to weigh our letters and packages,” said Jerry.

The Bahnaks believe people should collect what they love. For them, the rarer the item, the more interesting the find.

They are bringing a variety of items for sale, to the Tanglewood, including a painting acquired at a sale in Armstrong County.

“It was part of an estate of longtime resident and builder that traveled the world collecting antique art,” Jerry said.

“We are bringing a Victorian sewing stand handcrafted with much detail to placement by color of the spools of thread. We found it in near Grove City, more than likely made by an Amish man for his wife’s sewing,” said Toni.

Among the glassware they will feature, one of their personal Heisey collection pieces will be for sale at the show. Because their vast collections have reached saturation point it’s imperative to find balance, she said.

“Now if something comes into our collections, something has to go out which is the reason we have such wonderful finds for sale at the show,” said Toni.