Collecting Handmade Quilts
Handmade quilts are the threads that bind generations.
If you are lucky enough to have inherited a handmade quilt from your grandmother or another branch on your family tree, then you already know the sentimental value attached to it. The warmth it generates comes not only from its fabric but also from the quilter who put her heart into every detail of its creation. Perhaps you’ve thought about acquiring more quilts to spread the warmth throughout your home but were unsure where to begin the search. Suzanne Smith Arney, a freelance art writer with a special interest in quilts and textiles, offers her advice on collecting, displaying and caring for handmade quilts.
“The most successful collections start with the heart,” Suzanne says. “What is it that you love about quilts? If you’ve been thinking of launching a collection, listen to your heart and begin with the one object that has you hopelessly charmed. Learn all you can about it, then trust your instincts and follow your bliss.”
History Lessons
Suzanne suggests learning more about handmade quilts by gleaning information from community colleges, books, quilting guilds, websites and quilt museums—an excellent source being the International Quilt Study Center & Museum (IQSC) in Lincoln, Nebraska (nationalquiltmuseum.org).
“I’ve always had an appreciation and respect for traditional ‘women’s work,’” Suzanne says. “Learning about quilts, from antiquity to the most contemporary, has only increased my esteem and enjoyment at this astonishingly rich medium.”
How to Display your Collection
- Consider not only the visual effect you want to achieve with your quilt but also the safest way to display it, Suzanne says.
- Hang it on the wall from a quilt hanger, fold it on the shelf of an armoire, or drape it on a quilt rack or the arm of a chair or banister.
- Create a vignette. If the quilt is an heirloom from your grandmother, display it with her picture or your grandparents’ marriage license.
Score Board
COLLECTIBLE: Vintage quilts
PRODUCERS: Crafters
PRICE RANGE: Quilt prices are largely determined by age,condition and complexity of the design.
BEST PLACES TO PICK: Good places to find vintage quilts include antiques stores, estate sales, online auction sites like eBay, upscale flea markets—and the attic of your own home.
MARKET VALUE: In addition to its condition and age, if there is an interesting history attached to the quilt, that will drive up the market value.
MAKER’S MARKS: Check the bottom corner of the quilt for the crafter’s name and the year it was made.
If you love collecting vintage housewares, read on for Weighing In on Antique Scales. And, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!
