In three years of “finding something to do” after retirement, Darlene and Gordon Jedle acquired en…

By Mary Zielinski (free-lance)

In three years of “finding something to do” after retirement, Darlene and Gordon Jedle acquired enough antiques and collectibles to open a shop. So they did.

Jade’s Antiques, Collectibles and Gifts opened last month at 424 B Ave., and offers a wide variety of items with prices as low as $2 and as high as several hundred. They were joined in the business by their son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Sonya Jedle. The son already had an estbalished woodworking business in Kalona, some examples of which can be found in the new shop as well.

Including the Jedles “there are six dealers,” all of whom specialize in different things. For example, Noreen Weeber (the building’s owner who formerly operated the Big D Doll shop there) has vintage and collectible dolls, and Larry and Ann Moeller have furniture and a numerous amount of antique kitchen wear.

Much of the shop’s inventory is glassware, china, pottery and crockery.

“I really like Lefton china,” explained Darlene Jedle, pointing out some choice pieces, including a rose tea set. She also has a large amount of Limoges, including a special French edition of collector’s plates.

Her acquisition, though, started with carnival glass, and exquisite pieces are displayed on a walnut cupboard.

She explained that she and her husband had retired “played a lot of golf,” then found “being out in the sun too much,” and started going to sales.

“It was something to do,” she said, adding that they consulted books, studied about certain items and finally had “so much, that we decided to sell some of it.”

Some of the more collectible items the shop offers are porcelain timbles, many of which echo classic nursery rhymes and other stories.

“You can’t use them, of course,” she said. “They are only for collecting and display.”

They also are very reasonably priced “and people really like them.”

There are collectible birds and bells, porcelain figures, full sets of quality china (with sterling silver tableware available, too), cut glass vases and a few cobalt blue ones that would make even the most modest table look elegant.

The shop has furniture, but in limited number and Jedle is careful about its size and quality. In fact, the furniture seems as if it were chosen to careful counterpoint the china and glassware.

Like any true antique shop, its shelves and nooks and crannies are full and it is advisable to take your time when looking through the shop.

And who is Jade?

“That’s us,” she said, explaining that it is derived from the Jedle name that often gets pronounced as if it were Jadle.

Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and winter hours may be 10 a.m.-5 p.m.