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About DARWIN D. BEARLEY
Expertise
I am considered by many to be an expert on AMERICAN ANTIQUE QUILTS. My real expertise lies with ANTIQUE OHIO AMISH QUILTS and in 2006 the book, "ANTIQUE OHIO AMISH QUILTS, THE DARWIN D. BEARLEY COLLECTION" WAS PUBLISHED BY BERNINA SEWING MACHINE COMPANY OF ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. I can help with all aspects of identification, dating, repair and cleaning. I also buy, and broker antique quilts.

Experience
Over the past 30 odd years, I have bought and sold ANTIQUE QUILTS for a living. I also have a personal collection of Antique Ohio Amish Quilts. I have sold to the Smithsonian, the LA County Museum of Art, the movie "What Lies Beneath" starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer and to Catherine Denuuve. My Antique Ohio Amish Quilt Collection has been exhibited at The Museum of Our American Heritage, The Akron Art Institute, The Canton Art Museum, Wright State University and The Quilt National in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have also been exhibited in Germany and France and recently at the Quilt Expo in Houston, Texas. Many of the quilts have been published in various books, magazines and calendars. One was even pictured in National Geographic Magazine. Recently a book on my collection was published by Bernina Sewing Machine Co. of Zurich entitled, "Antique Ohio Amish Quilts, The Darwin D. Bearley Collection"

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Collectibles-General (Antiques) - damage control

Expert: DARWIN D. BEARLEY - 10/25/2009

Question
I was given a quilt unaware of the actual age of it. On the back
side of the quilt was a large blood stain. Just starting to go through to the front side. It had not been washed. Stored in a hall closet of a 92 yr old woman's home, for many many years this way.

Stupid Stupid me.....

Not knowing what I had, decided to spray the back side of the
quilt with spray and wash, all over the stain. There were several
areas showing unwashed blood stains, and allot that were previously
cleaned, but left a stain.

As I sprayed the green material.....and the blanket became wet,
lettering began to faintly show through from the material. This quilt was made with chicken mash feed bags, ABC Flour sacks, and
dairy feed sacks.. Now it is drenched in spray in wash, so I put it in the quick wash cycle. When it came out, still stained, some of the material on front started falling apart... Not at the seams. more like unraveling...
I hung it out on the line to dry..

Seeing the lettering on the back side , I figured I had made a big
huge mistake. Not to mention, I took the OLD look out of the blanket. I'm heart broken... I found out the quilt is 100+ or - 10 years. My friend's 92 year old mother was given this quilt by her mother, who made it as a young teenager...

Is there anything i can do to salvage this beautiful quilt both
front and back???

I was also give a prairie type slip for under a young womans dress.
This is in impeccable condition. hand made by the same young teenager that made the quilt. My friend's 92 yr old mother is still alive and telling stories. This slip is also made out of
flour sacks. Gorgeous!!! How would be the best way to store these treasures??? and could you put a value on them???

Answer
I COULDN'T BEGIN TO HELP YOU WITH OUT SEEING GOOD PICTURES OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AS YOUR QUESTION DOESN'T REALLY DESCRIBE THE DAMAGE YOU CAUSED.

IF YOU CAN EMAIL ME GOOD PICTURES, i'LL TRY TO HELP BUT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO .

SEND PICTURES TO DDBSTUFF@AOL.COM

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