ROCK ISLAND — Hundreds gathered at the QCCA Expo Center Saturday in search of oldies but goodies at the 16th fall Antique Spectacular.
The center was filled with several organized rows of antique furniture, jewelry, books, china, kitchen ware, rugs, wall hangings, artwork, knickknacks and more.
Christa Hocker, of Geneseo, said she was most interested in the jewelry and hats. “I love jewelry. I love the old hats and stuff like that,” she said.
Her friend, Mary Johnson, also of Geneseo, agreed, and said she also was interested in Berger plates, some painted with birds and others with forget-me-not flowers. One of the Berger artists, “Otto (Berger), was my aunt’s father-in-law, so there’s kind of a family connection,” Ms. Johnson said.
Ms. Hocker and Ms. Johnson said the two have came to the Antique Spectacular event between six and eight times and both enjoy it. “It’s indoors, it’s clean,” Ms. Johnson said, adding that it’s also “a good place to buy Christmas presents.”
Ms. Hocker said she liked the variety of vendors and items. “I’d like to back a truck up” to the door, she said, and the two laughed.
Across the room at a stamp booth, Lisa Crews, from Davenport, was busy “treasure hunting.” Ms. Crews said this was her third or fourth Spectacular, and Saturday she was on the hunt for some stoneware pottery. “It’s made locally, and I really just like them,” she said.
She paused as she sorted through the stamps and said she had bought a few stamps at the last show and was looking for more to start a collection. “There’s a lot of different things to look at,” she said of the Spectacular.
Groups gazed at the items in each booth intently, some with their hands clasped behind their backs. Inside each booth was a world of organized chaos with a variety of items arranged in cases and on shelves and tables.
“I like oil paintings, folk art, early furniture and architecture,” said Roy McGoldrick, of Moline, who was in search of goodies to collect and sell.
He said he, too, has been to several Spectaculars and tries to come every year. “They put on a good show,” he said.
By Laura Anderson, landerson@qconline.com