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"
Expert: DARWIN D. BEARLEY Date: 3/2/2006 Subject: I have a quilt top made by...
Question I have a quilt top made by my great grandmother. It is probably double bed size. I don't believe it has ever been cleaned as it still feels like new fabric. Is there any value to this quilt top. By the way it is all hand sewn and is I think a crazy quilt pattern,which looks like many diffrent cotton fabrics.
Answer Hi Sandi,
All hand made quilts and quilt tops have value.
The value of such an item depends and many things.
Age, style, condition, size, design, color etc., etc.
I cannot tell you what your top is possibly worth without actually seeing it.
You might want to go to Ebay and see what similar items are selling for.
Some people keep tops as tops and never finish. Others feel it is OK to finish them.
Whatever you do, don't wash it in a machine. If it isn't dirty, don't do anything.
If you want to keep it as an heirloom, store it in an old pillow case. Do not store it in plastic.
