Beauty and variety abound at Zonta Club’s Antique Show

by Donna M. Webb
Grand Island Dispatch, March 17, 2006

The annual Zonta Club’s Antique Show and Sale last weekend at River Oaks Golf Club was a crowd-pleaser. About 15 exhibitors displayed a wide variety of beautiful and unusual items, such as estate jewelry, cut glass bowls and trays, stuffed animals from the 1950s and Waterford crystal. There was a 50/50 split raffle and a second raffle that offered as prizes a pastel flowered quilt and a china pitcher, meticulously painted by Christine Ryshkus.

Some of the unique goods for sale included two porcelain animal statues – an elephant and two kissing bunnies – that had red clovers painted on them. These were part of the collection displayed by Sawyer Creek Antiques. Owner Victoria Davis also offered a striking pink and clear crystal perfume bottle and black, cloth purses with embroidered flowers.

Carol Lett’s collection included milk glass cups and a crock, jewelry and a silver Santa candle snuffer. A large Madame Alexander doll with a delicate white and pink lace dress and matching hat also graced one of Lett’s tables.

Safely tucked away inside the glass cases were numerous pieces of jewelry offered by Sarah Eve Blawat of Michael’s Antique Jewelry. These included eye-catching rings of various kinds. A two-carat aquamarine ring, pink and green tourmaline rings and others with blue sapphires were just a few of the exquisite pieces that Blawat had on display.

Carol Alabiso of Estate Liquidations and Appraisals exhibits at the Zonta Club’s show each year because she is a former Zonta member. She has been doing this for 15 years. She said this event helps to advertise her business. “We did very well with sales,” Alabiso said. “We were very pleased.” She was surprised, however, that a matching set of pink and clear glass bookends had not sold. They were unusual, in that inside each bookend there were flowers, also made of glass that resembled calla lilies.

Patti Fruet, known as The Glass Lady, was selling books all about antiques. These included books depicting toys, vintage jewelry and Depression glass. Her blue, amber and purple “crackle glass” pitchers were very pretty, as was a Murano art glass bowl with a white latticework pattern and other colors on the sides. One of Fruet’s most unusual items was an 11-inch Kewpie doll. Originals of these dolls are made of a material called “composition,” have a red heart with the word “Kewpie” on it, and sport tiny wings.

Fruet noted how the Kewpie doll craze began: “Rosie O’Neill started it. She was an illustrator for Ladies Home Journal in the 1920s.” O’Neill first drew the doll, and the idea took off from there.

Deb Livingston Antiques offered antique Fisher Price toys. These included a pelican and No. 473 – the “Merry Mutt,” a xylophone-playing puppy.

Kathi Shonitsky, Antique Show and Sale chairwoman, told those in attendance, “Proceeds will go to women’s scholarships on Grand Island.” In addition to all the work she did, Shonitsky’s husband, Lee, helped a great deal. “We did very well. I’m sure the weather had a lot to do with it,” she said.

One of the other Zontians, Lyn Laman explained that this is the 36th year the club has held the Antique Show and Sale. She noted, “It used to be down at the Beaver Island Casino before it (the casino) burned down.” After that, the show was at the Buffalo Launch Club, the Holiday Inn, and the Knights of Columbus Hall (briefly). Laman said this year marked the fourth time the Antique Show has been at the River Oaks Golf Club.

The Zonta Club’s president is Marie Burns, and the vice president is Deb Spencer. The club is part of Zonta International, which is a service organization of business executives dedicated to the professional status of women.

There are more than 35,000 Zontians in 53 countries. Grand Island’s club began in 1958. It supports the Neighbors Foundation and the Grand Island Fire Company, and provides student and adult scholarships annually.