AboutDARWIN 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.
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"
Question I have an antique quilt that is 48" x 60" plus a 5" wide hand tatted border (no seams) that I am going to sell. Only two pieces of silk have disintegrated, all the rest looks unbelievable for age. I have an antique dealer coming over in a couple days but am scared he will not be honest with me. Do you have appraisal services (for a fee, of course) available and/or advise on how/where to sell? Thank you
Answer Christi,
I do not have a free appraisal service. However, you can go to Ebay.com and do a "completed Auction" search and get some idea of what quilts similar to yours have sold for.
You could also try selling it on Ebay if you don't trust the dealer that is coming to look at it.
You should realize that most dealers are pretty honest but that they do need to buy at a price where hey can mark it up and still make money.
If you want to get top dollar, do your home work and put a price on it and than either put it on Ebay ofr anpother auction or place ads in the papers etc.
First, you'll realize, it isn't free and it isn't easy.
Dealers earn their living contrary to the belief that a lot of people have.
