BUTLER TWP — Clean, artfully displayed items of years, decades and even centuries gone by greeted those who attended the 72nd annual Intermediate League Antique Show & Sale, held March 15 through 17 at the Tanglewood Center off Fairground Hill Road.

Antique and vintage enthusiasts toted everything from furniture to metal wall hangings, delicate glassware wrapped in thick paper, weathered signage, sparkling brooches and everything in between out the doors of the center.

A line formed at the door Friday evening of those who wanted first dibs on the wares on sale at the show. Friday evening patrons were rewarded with a box of sweets and treats to enjoy with a glass of punch in the Armco Room.

On Saturday, patrons perused the treasures displayed in every room at the center, where 40 vendors set up their booths.

The proceeds from the show will benefit 16 nonprofit groups chosen by Intermediate League members. Last year, the show raised $20,000 for distribution to nonprofits.

Maria Blose, ticket chairperson for the event, said people come from miles around to attend the show.

“It’s a high-quality show and the dealers put together really nice displays,” she said. “We always try to get quality dealers with a good variety of items.”

Intermediate League member Lu Gold said she ran into one patron from New Bethlehem, Clarion County, who was so impressed with the show on Friday night he got a hotel room and came back on Saturday.

Gold said she noticed more furniture than usual going out the door, along with jewelry and baskets this year.

Becky Plymale, also an Intermediate League member, said she enjoys hearing people comment that their parent or grandparent had an item they see on display, and many times they share a story.

Blose said making a purchase at the Antique Show & Sale is like taking home a piece of history.

“Personally, I love to see their excitement about their purchases,” she said.

Emily Seibel, of Butler, has been coming to the show for more than 30 years. She attended with her mother when the show was held at the former Days Inn on Route 8.

“Everything is very approachable,” Seibel said. “It’s curated and it provides a small community exposure to items not readily available in Butler any longer.”

Seibel collects European items and jewelry, but also appreciates portraiture.

She recalled an instance when she attended the show at the Days in as a young girl in which she marveled at a sparkling brooch at a vendor’s booth. She shared with the vendor how much she loved it.

“The dealer said ‘Oh honey, you keep it,’” Seibel said. “It was such a touching, sweet experience and I’ll never forget it.”

She still has the brooch gifted to her by the kind vendor all those years ago.

Roberta Rainier, of Hermitage, Mercer County, has attended the show about 15 times over the past 20 years.

She appreciates the large inventory of jewelry and other antiques.

Rainier also collects vintage décor for Christmas, Easter and other holidays.

In addition to shopping, she lauded the homemade foods cooked up by the Tanglewood kitchen staff each year.

“Everyone is so nice here,” Rainier said. “It’s just a nice day out.”

Diane Filges, of Butler, has attended the show every year it has been held at the Tanglewood Center.

“It’s a wonderful show with wonderful people,” she said. “I have found a lot of nice things in the past.”

She bought some Longaberger baskets Friday night, and was on the hunt for anything that caught her eye on Saturday.

“It’s a love of the past,” Filges said of her penchant for vintage and antique items. “I’ve bought a lot of nice things here.”

Joseph Davis himself manned the Joseph Davis Decorative Arts booth at the show.

Davis, of Cleveland, sold his unique items at the show for the first time last year.

“I see a lot of collectors and dealers I’ve known over the last 30 years,” he said. “It’s like old home week.”

He said his booth does not carry items people would recognize from Grandma’s house.

“I carry more decorative arts meant to make a space look beautiful,” Davis said.

He pointed out the exhibit piece he brought to Butler, which is a Rookwood floor vase from 1909 priced at $2,200.

He also displayed a German painting of Marie Antoinette and decanters in the shape of the king and queen from “Alice in Wonderland” that also are bookends.

“You could hide your whiskey and people thought they were bookends,” Davis said. “Everything has a story and that’s what I like about it.”

He saw people from his native Cleveland at the Tanglewood, and a friend from Baltimore came to Butler to visit him at the show.

“It’s not just local people,” Davis said. “People will drive a couple hours for this show.”

Stu Irwin, of Pittsburgh, attended his first Intermediate League Antique Show & Sale on Saturday.

“We heard good things and we are absolutely thrilled to be here,” he said.

He and his wife attend three or four antique shows per year, he said.

“I’m buying American history and I think it should be preserved,” Irwin said.

Elaine Linamen, president of the Intermediate League, said she was pleased with attendance this year, and is excited to distribute the proceeds to the nonprofits chosen by league members.

“The patrons and dealers seem very happy about the show and that’s what we like to hear,” she said.