Fantastic Finds: Northern Illinois Antiques Dealer Show

Hubby and I left the house very early Saturday morning to be sure to arrive on time at the Northern Illinois Antiques Dealer Association Show in Rockford, Illinois. The Show opened at 10:00 and we were right on time, but had a line of anxious buyers to contend with. It was their 48th Annual antiques show but our first visit there. And it was certainly worth the drive!

There were 38 dealers in attendance, each one with a nice variety of top-quality antiques. No reproductions here, there was a great deal of integrity in their wares. The set-up was delightful too! The show was held at the Forest Hills Lodge which offered plenty of space, great lighting and with booths open and easy to flow through. The show has been held here for the last 15 years, they know a good setting when they see one!

We inquired at the check-in as to the name of the individual who was managing the show and they referred us to Bob Campbell of The Swan House Antiques. Bob was very friendly and professional and eager to share his knowledge about the Association and its members. He attributed the good turn-out to the agreeable weather and their history of offering quality antiques. Bob and his wife, Jan, do not own a store or lease booth space, but simply do shows, generally 3 or 4 a year. They’ve been members of the NIADA for 37 years.

Many of the dealers at the weekend show were from the area, but there were several we recognized from shows in Wisconsin, including a few members of WADA (Wisconsin Antiques Dealer Association.)
The first booth that we were attracted to was that of Joyce’s Silver & Antiques. She’s been in business for 41 years and sells at the newly re-opened Antique Mall in Rockford, Illinois, located on State Street.

Joyce specializes in silverware and hollowware, much of it in sterling and with a wonderful variety of products. Tea service sets, flatware in numerous patterns, candlesticks, and other fine antiques from England, France and the U.S. Very knowledgeable indeed!

Our next stop was the Blue Clover Antiques booth. It was run by partners Bill Byers and William Miller who have been selling for 25 years, specializing in flow blue ware. They belong to the Flow Blue International Collectors Club. This Club was founded in Rockford, Illinois 38 years ago. At that time there were 21 members. Bill and William were two of those founders. We were told there are about 1,000 members across the United States, England, Europe and Israel. The next show for the Flow Blue International Collectors Club is scheduled for July 24-27 in Rochester, New York.

While their specialty is flow blue dishes, they offered a nice selection of other antiques. Bill is pictured holding up a doll from the 1850s that collectors of black memorabilia would definitely find desirable! Her price was $350 and we thought she was incredible!

As the morning wore on, the crowd continued to grow. We found it challenging to get pictures of more of the booths. We do note the high concentration of primitive items, some very unique such as a metal piece from a prison in Indiana, a 5-part metal hog trough/feeder, signs from many Illinois establishments and on and on.

On a personal note, we were able to add to our growing collection of antique copperware and bought this fish cooker with a magnificent ’starburst’ pattern. It was made in France in the 1890s and was nicely hall-marked.

I suggested that it could be my early birthday present, but then I always use that as an excuse when I truly “NEED” something!

In turn, I bought hubby two silver pieces. One is a cheese peeler, and the other is a pastry server for impressing our guests when passing out the Krispy Kremes!

It was an excellent show and one we will mark on our calendars for 2009!