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 had quilts made by my great grandmother and her mother. I am 67 yrs old and some of them were older than me. They were destroyed during hurricane Katrina. Can you give me some idea of their value? They were not fancy. Some were made from scrap material (as in patchwork), and some had solid pieces of material (all one pattern) for the top piece. Some were also piecework (scraps in a repetitive pattern). Thanks for your help.
Answer Hi Sandy,
Sorry to hear about your loss. Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to give you any kind of value on your quilts without seeing them or pictures of them.
Surf ice it to say that any handmade quilt is worth at least $100 but to get a real appraisal and appraiser needs to see the quilts.
I don't mean to be harsh but the time to get the appraisal is BEFORE something happens.
Do you by chance have any pictures? I would imagine that , if you did, they would have been destroyed as well.
I truly wish I could be of some help but I'm afraid I can't do anything for you.
My best wishes for your recovery. I sure hope you all get back on your feet real soon.
