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 A friend has asked me to do some repairs on an old family quilt. It's in pretty good shape but their are a few places where the fabric is delicate and splitting and other places where there are tears. She asked me to mainly stabilize it to prevent the damage from getting any worse. I have never worked on an old quilt before and don't want to do anything that might damage it more now or possibly in the future. Any suggestions?
Answer Kathy,
I don't do repairs so I'd suggest you consult a quilt restorer.
Here are a couple of web sites that may be of help:
