Women's Clubs annual show comes up Friday
For 59 years, the General Federation of Women's Clubs Intermediate League of Butler has played host to one of the area's largest antique shows, with proceeds benefiting Butler County charities.
More than 40 antique dealers from five states will be bringing their finest for the show, which opens Friday.
Many repeat vendors will return to the show, with four new dealers also featured. Some items from the newer dealers include old post cards, trading cards, paper memorabilia, a barber's bleeding bowl dating back to the 1750s and a variety of Victorian glass plates.
Also available will be show favorites such as Royal Doulton tableware and accessories, Flow Blue dinnerware, Early American glass, Heisey glass, Haviland china and various clocks, toys, jewelry and furniture.
For Larry and Marsha Murphy of Ellwood City, the show has become a tradition.
"We started doing the Butler show in 1991. The ladies treat all the dealers so good that we keep coming back," said Marsha.
The Murphys said they have many loyal customers who return to the show each year as well as fellow dealers.
"Dealers are like family, and we enjoy catching up on everything that happened the past year," Marsha explained.
"We also get together on Saturday night after the show to eat and swap stories and have a few laughs," she added.
The couple just returned from a show in Nashville where they found a few items to be displayed in Butler next weekend.One of the items they brought back is a southern dough box. Constructed from wood with tin screen vents, the box is most likely from the late 1800s."These were used especially in the South from the 1850s to the 1920s. This one was from Georgia," explained Larry."There is a board which was used to knead the dough and then it was set in the box to rise. The air could circulate around the dough, but the bugs would be kept out," he said. The boxes are used in a variety of ways, including as wine holders, dish servers on a dining table or to hold or organize items for dinner parties.The Murphys will also be bringing a firebox that was crafted in Lancaster County by the Amish. It dates back to the 1880s and was fashioned from the wood of a Poplar tree."The Amish would use this box, which has a divider for wood on one side and kindling on the other," explained Larry. "Traditionally, these were kept on the front porch by the door," added Marsha.They are also bringing a folk art pig that Larry picked up in Rogers, Ohio."Larry definitely has the eye for things," said Marsha. "He has a knack for picking up the most unusual items and they sell first. One time he came home with these (carnival pins) that were painted red from the late 1800s. I said, 'What? Bowling Pins? Are you crazy?' Wouldn't you know they were the first things we sold that year at the Butler show," said Marsha."I sold the four that the paint was best on," Larry said."I think pieces that evoke a memory or a feeling that you had when you were younger are always a safe bet. That is why toys are such a hot item," he said.They both agree that much of the market is a gamble, so buying what they like is the insurance they need that they won't get stuck with something."If something doesn't sell, we move it into the house, live with it and take it back out next season," they said.
There are, however, a few things that the couple won't part with. Marsha collects antique bears and they both collect items with the name Murphy on them — so it is doubtful shoppers will find those items for sale at their booth.Though heavily concentrating for years on furniture and country primitives, the market has pushed them into diversifying and focusing on some nostalgia pieces and adding smaller items to their collection.The husband and wife team has been in the antique business for more than 25 years and has seen trends come and go, the most recent being economic."We used to do 25 shows a year, and now we are down to like 10 or so of the biggest shows in the country," Marsha said."Where couples or buyers used to bring $1,000 to a show, they are now bringing a couple hundred to spend," said Larry."People used to come and shop for what they liked, and now they only shop for what they need, so often they are buying less and smaller," said Marsha.When they began, the Murphys often sold to newlyweds and couples just starting out. They say that has become a rarity."I can remember young couples starting with the older, sturdy items and feeling like they were getting an investment for the future," Marsha said."Now it seems the retro look is really in and the young couples are content with the newer styles, colors and not as interested in craftsmanship as they start out."The Murphys used to do a lot of custom furniture refinishing, but find themselves doing less."Not only does the refinishing drive up the cost of an item, but the painted wood is really where the collectors are looking," said Larry.While the economy seems to be hitting the market for large items, dealers say the recession hasn't seemed to hurt the smaller things."Furniture has become pretty static and prices have seemed to stabilize, but there are some areas where we are still seeing huge growth," said Cynthia Marshall, who owns Antiques on Main with her husband, William Smith."We had decent sales at Antiques on Main during the holidays while retail was reporting losses," said Cynthia. "I think that the economy has actually forced our customers to be a bit more educated, and while they didn't buy in quantity, they made up for it by buying quality pieces," she said."The economy has driven the consumer to be more savvy and more selective in their purchases. Customers seem to come in with more information and are more educated than ever before about what they are buying," she added.
Marshall's specialty is Victorian jewelry, which she says has been moving quite well."Back then, women didn't have a bunch of earrings: They had one pair, one good watch and several nice rings — so those items are rare and sought after," she explained."People purchase them as investments," she added, noting they will continue to climb in value.Marshall said oil paintings also are very strong."Basically, naturalist painting prior to 1920 seems to be doing quite well," she said.Marshall said military items also are popular, including items from the Civil War, World War I and II.As far as trends go, Marshall thinks there are several indicators, but notes one specifically in the media."Ironically, anything that Martha Stewart mentions or notes in her magazine seems to be sought after," she said.There are several local trends that Marshall is quick to share. They include Pyrex and other kitchenware from the 1950s and 60s and anything with the word Butler on it.Marshall also speculates the Maridon Museum has had an influence on local collectors."Asian items, things that are jade or Buddha related seem to be on the rise. Things with Eastern religion connected to them are currently of interest locally," she said.What's not so hot?"Huge sets of China used to be all the rage, but either dinner parties are getting smaller or entertaining is getting less formal," Marshall said. "But the interest in huge sets of china seem to be waning."Marshall also sees an increasingly utilitarian style of collecting, with buyers looking for items that are functional."They want cute pieces that they can use for entertaining or decorating," she said.Proceeds from the show will benefit a variety of Butler County charities including the YWCA of Butler, American Red Cross, Butler Public Library, Butler County Historical Society, Butler City Shade Tree Commission, Maridon Museum and others.Tickets are available at the YWCA and from Intermediate League members.
<b>WHAT: </b>59th Annual GFWC Intermediate League of Butler Antiques Show and Sale<b>WHEN: </b>6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday<b>WHERE:</b> Tanglewood Center on Hansen Avenue, Lyndora<b>TICKETS:</b> Available at the YWCA and through Intermediate League members for $8 for Friday gala preview admission and $6 for Saturday and Sunday admission. Tickets for the annual quilt raffle will be sold for $1.
