Archive for the ‘Quilt Appraisals’ Category

Beth Davis Appointed Vice-President of PAAQT

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Beth and Dan Davis in period costume - July 2010
Beth Davis and her husband, Dan, July 2010

Long time friend and professional associate, Elizabeth Davis, has been appointed as Vice-President of the Professional Association of Appraisers of Quilted Textiles. Beth is a dedicated quilt historian who has contributed much to the quilt world as we know it.

Beth Davis at Genessee
A costumed Beth Davis hand quilts on various quilt projects to show museum visitors how this activity might have looked in the old days

She volunteers as an historical interpreter at one of the houses on location at Genesee Country Village and Museum in Rochester, New York. Her book, A Stitch in Time, provides details about the museum’s antique quilt collection and is available in the museum’s gift store.

Beth Davis holding her book

Beth learned about the business of quilt appraisals by attending annual meetings at Paducah, Kentucky where the American Quilter’s Society conducts its annual contest display of quilts that draws quilters from everywhere! A program to train and certify quilt appraisers was founded by Gerald Roy, a well-known collector and fabric designer who holds an M.F.A. degree. To pass muster and become certified, a student must excel in knowledge about antique quilt patterns, comparative values and ethics. The PAAQT group to which Beth Davis has been named vice-president is an off-shoot of a group that encompasses graduates of the AQS program.

Beth Davis at her educational booth
Quilt Show 2007 in NY

As quilt historian of her quilt club for years, Beth has led many an educational program about antique quilts. She sets up an educational booth at her local show and provides information about quilt care, often showing visitors my book, Straight Talk About Quilt Care, now available as an easily-stored e-book (nothing other than a computer needed to view it).

Beth has been very active in her two local quilt guilds, one in Henrietta, NY and another one located in Rochester, New York. Recently, she designed a quilt for the Rochester group group whioch was made twice by members of the group, One of the quilts will be raffled within the club and the other identical quilt will become part of the group’s saved quilts. The Genessee Valley Quilt Club (GVQC) draws its members from the local Rochester, NY area and is currently marking its 75th year anniversary. It is one of the oldest continually-meeting quilt groups in the country.

Beth and her friend, Anne, in Paducah 2011
Beth Davis and her friend, Anne, getting stocked up on quilting supplies at the AQS Show in Paducah, 2011.

When not quilting or appraising quilts, Beth who worked as an international import/export agent for Kodak for more than thirty years, spends her time as a substitute postal worker. Beth conducts Save Our Stories interviews for the Alliance for American Quilts. At home, she and her husband, Dan, enjoy their miniature horses, and a group of ever-expanding household pets. To read a story about one of Beth’s horses click on “Tale of a Wayward Little Horse.” Jim and I congratulate Elizabeth Davis on all of her accomplishments and wish her continued success!

For Your Information:

Genessee Valley Quilt Club’s 2011 Quilt Show

The group’s biennial quilt show will be set up on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology. The show lasts for three days, June 3-5, 2011. Six hundred member quilts and 10 traveling exhibits will be featured as well as more than 40 participating vendors. In addition, the show will host a Wearable Art Show, an Iron Quilter Competition, an exhibit of Challenge Quilts, and a Live Auction (with proceeds to be given to Gilda’s Club). “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” is challenge quilt theme this year and prize money of $1,000 will be awarded by a certified quilt judge and an appraiser.
For more information, contact Val Schultz,

Posted by Patricia Cummings, Quilter’s Muse Publications

Posted in Announcements, Quilt Appraisals | 3 Comments »

Appraisals, Values, and Finding Customers for Old Textiles

Monday, May 24th, 2010

If you haven’t noticed, there is currently a downturn in economic trading in the United States. This is not “NEWS.” It is the daily reality of those who are out of work or struggling to pay bills. Often, there isn’t enough money for that CD one has been wanting, or new fabric for that special quilt that one has been wishing to make. We have all had to trim our budgets to make way for the necessary, while leaving the “someday” buys on a shelf, for now.

When people think of downsizing, they often turn to old textiles that some ancestor made. Sure the item is nice, but they no longer wish to own whatever it may be: a quilt, an embroidered pillowcase, a paisley shawl. They simply do not wish to continue to give houseroom to this piece and they wonder how much it might be worth. Usually, it is worth a whole lot less than any sentimental assignment of worth might reflect.

On a daily basis, I receive notes from people in the United States and abroad. They want my “assistance” in telling them what their item is worth and where they can sell it. It seems obvious and flip to mention “eBay,” but in reality, if you don’t want to wait, that is your most expedient choice. If the price is too high, you will get no bidders. Right now, keep in mind that less people are accessing the Internet, in lieu of attending graduations, mowing the lawn, or engaging in other warm weather activities. People seem to spend less time on the computer than in winter months.

Even if I am interested in an item, myself, it would be unethical for me to suggest a price. The price-setting has to come from another source, preferably a certified appraiser. If your item is not worth at least $200., then it probably not worth having it appraised, as appraisers generally charge $50.-55. to look over your textile and write up a report that documents the item.

We are all in the same boat, and probably all own items that we don’t even look at, and have no intention of using again. Yard sales can be a good venue, especially if advertised as a particular kind of yard sale – say, for quilts, and word gets out to the “right” people. Just be sure to have enough helpers on hand so that the mauling hands of people or kids who have just eaten a sticky ice cream cone will not ruin your great grandmother’s Crazy Quilt that can’t be cleaned.

As a non-appraiser and non-dealer, believe me, I am the last person to ask regarding the pricing of your antique items. Appraising has never interested me. It is based on supposition, and subjectivity to a degree that is too high to suit me. It seems absurd to pay someone a fee to be told how much money an item might “fetch” in the marketplace. Anything is worth ONLY what a buyer is willing to pay, surely an unpopular opinion among those who make a lot of money doing appraisals. I am useless when asked to assign dollar figures to textiles!

Until next time, amigos y amigas,

Pat

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Oregon Launches New State Documentation Project

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Bill Volckening and Martha Spark have been busy setting up a statewide documentation project for the state of Oregon, with the support of writer/quilt historian Mary Bywater Cross, and Martha Spark. They have just launched on online website and will be conducting quilt documentation days. Residents who own quilts are urged to contact the committee and to secure a form to fill out before the actual appointment to view the quilt. This effort joins the first such project of its kind, instituted in Kentucky by Shelly Zegart in 1981, and all of the ensuing state projects. Some states, like Pennsylvania, have already published a number of different books from various regions of the state, one that has a long and strong history of quiltmaking.

Many states have published state documentation books, one of the most recent ones covers Massachusetts. Some states still have books in the works, and at least one has decided not to publish a statewide book that documents their quilts.

Mary Bywater Cross has written several books that center on quilts and the Mormon migration.

For more information about this exciting new project, please visit: The Oregon State Quilt Project

Congratulations to those who have worked diligently to get the project to this point. As an aside, I would add that it is always best not to mix appraisals with documentation days. They are two separate entities and other states have run into some conflict-of-interest issues by combining the two components. Appraisals are of interest to the quilt owner, but should be conducted at a different location. A word to the wise … Human beings, flawed as they are, can be tempted to low-ball an appraisal and then offer to buy the quilt or other item at a knowingly much reduced price not commensurate with its true value. Don’t think I’m cynical. This has happened, more than once. I might add that most quilt appraisers are decent and honest human beings who do right by their customers.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Appraisals, Appraisals, Appraisals

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

The e-mails start out so simply. Someone has a quilt that their grandmaw made. It has a few stains, but oh well, grandmaw didn’t weather so well either. After all, she is dead, and we don’t really know if she made the quilt, or if it was her Aunt Tizzie Lou. The notes go back and forth, me trying to be as helpful as I can, with quilt care advice, perhaps, or in identifying a style, or engaging in a rule out operation such as, “No, pastel colors were not present until the 20th century.”

Then, the real reason for the contact, heretofore thinly-disguised, is that the person wants me to put a monetary value on the item. IF same person had read my thoughts about appraisals on my main website, they would know that I don’t give a hoot for monetary assessments. Appraisal values are subjective and can be irrational, arbitrary, and are usually inexact. At the very least, they are, shall we say, fleeting? The value of anything is the actual selling price.

Appraisals must be based on comparatives in specific geographical areas, taking into account condition and workmanship, and so much more. Appraisers study intently to try to come up with a value based on reason and variables. They “study” to gain their knowledge, and they “earn” every penny they are paid. I am not an appraiser and I refuse to throw out my opinion as to values, primarily because if that sort of thing interested me, I would BECOME an appraiser (and charge for my services!).

What if I tell someone that her quilt top is worth $250. and I assume that it is in clean condition, yet, in reality, it has mold? Then, it is worth $0. and a candidate for the dump. Photos do not provide enough information, period. I’ll say it again, never try to appraise a quilt based on a photo.

The bottom line between seller and buyer is that the price is agreeable to both of the parties. If the price is not within your budget, or seems outlandish, just walk away. There are plenty of sellers with high-end prices and stars in their eyes, and their quilts linger in inventory forever.

In my early years of collecting, I bought some items that I wish I had not, carried away at the moment. In one case, I did not even look at the whole piece, a ruffled Redwork quilt. The Turkey Red color ruffle is completely torn away from the seam for a great distance,and I have no idea how to fix it. The old fabric is faded and brittle and has been washed, again and again. Any value the item had went bye-bye, when the damage was incurred.

After receiving and answering an onslaught of questions from some guy who promised to buy a book of mine, his next to the last e-mail was, “What is the value?” I said I don’t do appraisals. In the next e-mail, her referred to me as “ma’am,” (you just gotta luv it), and said he’d buy a book elsewhere. I should have seen that coming, but didn’t!

In the future, my mantra will be: “Want to know about quilt care?” = “Buy my book.” “Want to know more about textiles?” = “Buy my books.” Read my articles in magazines and on the web!

I’ve been used one more time. Now my brains are picked clean. There is nothing left. Whatever thoughts I have had remain in written form. Buy my books.

Patricia Cummings, quilt historian who is not an appraiser
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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