Abundance of Antiques
A mixture of first-time and returning vendors will display their wares next weekend at the 58th annual Intermediate League of Butler Antique Show and Sale. Forty-two vendors from three states will bring furniture, folk art, primitives, military items, coins, jewelry, dishes and many other collections from the past.
"We have a great collection of dealers this year with about seven that will be with us for the first time," said chairwoman Leona Angert.
"We are excited about them and what they will bring to the show."
Scott and Beth Brasseur of Brasseur Fine Arts in Prospect have been dealing in antiques for 23 years and are among the first-time vendors."Being a vendor at the show this year provides us with an opportunity to revisit friends and customers we've worked with for years," said Scott Brasseur, who has attended the show to browse."It's a great opportunity to locally offer our merchandise. So many of the shows we do take us far out of the area," he said.As well as displaying items for sale, the Brasseurs will be available to talk about painting restoration, a specialty of Beth's since 1988.Heat and humidity can cause accelerated cracking, blistering and paint loss — and pollutants like nicotine or coal smoke are also among environmental factors that can cause discoloration of artwork, she said."Environmental factors are extremely important. Attic or basement storage of a painting can result in temperature changes, which can be very harmful to canvas, paper board or panel," she explained."Physical factors such as careless transport and accidents can also result in tears, holes and paint loss," she added.Many of the Brasseurs' clients are art and antique dealers who seek art restoration for financial and practical or personal reasons. Restoring a painting can change its value, she said."In most cases it will increase the value. A painting that has a tear or hole can be difficult to sell. Many collectors and decorators want a painting that is ready to hang, so in these cases restoration not only increases the value, but the salability of a piece," she said.The Brasseurs have restored paintings by artists from a wide range of time periods and locations but regularly work on 19th and early 20th century pieces. They have worked on paintings by regional artists, including Walter Emerson Baum, A.F. King and George Hetzel."Every painting is different and needs its own plan of action. Unique problems require creative solutions," she said, noting the experience of working on numerous paintings has given her the opportunity to develop a great amount of knowledge regarding a variety of restoration issues."Many of the paintings I restore are so dark and dirty when they arrive that it is almost impossible to see the palette of colors the artist intended to be seen," she explained.Before a painting can be cleaned, the Brasseurs need to determine what is actually on the surface. This job can be challenging, since painters often would use what they had on hand or what they could afford in their paintings."It is always gratifying to rescue a painting that has been neglected and return it to the condition which the artist intended," Beth said.For the Brasseurs, restoration doesn't stop with the painting: The couple also is skilled in restoring framing."Our ability to restore picture frames, gold leaf various objects and offer both vintage or new frame replacements provides our customers a single site for a variety of services," said Scott."As a result, much of our business comes from not only Western Pennsylvania but also Philadelphia, central Ohio and New England," he added.In addition to examples of painting restorations, the Brasseurs will exhibit vintage photography and folk art next weekend.
Pat and Dick Wright of Evans City return to the Intermediate League show for the 20th year. The Wrights used to own a store in Harmony and currently maintain a co-op booth in Wexford.The Butler show is the only one on their schedule this year. They will bring a collection of primitives and furniture from the early 1900s."We are bringing a blanket box that was used in home storage with cut-out feet and a drawer in the bottom," said Pat. Crafted from poplar, the box dates back to the 1890s."Another item we are bringing is a cherry tilt table we acquired from a private local estate. It is unique because it is square, while most were round," she added.The couple will also take a quilt from the 1920s with a grandmother's flower garden design.The annual raffle quilt also will be featured at the show. The quilt was made by the women of the First United Methodist Church of Butler and is the Dresden plate pattern on a creamy tea background in mauve, green, tan and burgundy.Joyce Rosepiler will be back again to demonstrate chair caning and will be working on pieces brought to the show, which has channeled more than $150,000 over the years to local charities.The Butler Public Library and the Butler County Symphony are among benefactors of this year's proceeds. The Intermediate League of Butler is affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
<B>WHAT:</B> The 58th annual GFWC Intermediate League of Butler Antique Show and Sale<B>WHEN:</B> 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 14; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 15 and noon to 5 p.m. March 16<B>WHERE:</B> Tanglewood Senior Center, Hansen Avenue, Lyndora<B>TICKETS:</B> Available at the YWCA and from Intermediate League members. Cost is $8 for Friday gala preview tickets and $6 for Saturday and Sunday admission. Quilt raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each.
