We had the privilege of meeting Gail Van Horsen, certified quilt appraiser, at Paducah Quilt Week this year. She's an absolutely lovely soul! I had some more questions for her when I got home, and thought everyone could benefit from her answers.
1) What are the requirements to become a certified quilt appraiser?
American Quilting Society (AQS) has a program to teach quilt appraising. The AQS Appraisal Committee teaches a class each Spring in Paducah. I definitely recommend taking that course. There is also a list of books on their website that help with quilt styles, fabric identification, and quilting styles. You can also find classes at shows on fabric
indentification and quilt history. Appraising isn’t just about identifying a quilt, though it is
about the dollar value of the quilt. It takes practice and knowing where to look for quilt
sales. The internet has made looking for quilt values easier but with so much information,
it is time consuming and requires a certain degree of skepticism. AQS requires testing for
certification. That also takes place in Paducah at the Spring Quilt Week.
2) What made you decide to become a quilt appraiser? How long have you been doing it?
I became a Certified AQS Quilt Appraiser in 2010 so fifteen years now. I ran into my first quilt appraiser at a guild show in Arizona about twenty years ago and was fascinated by her knowledge of quilts. I just had to try it.
3) Are you a quilter, and do you still quilt?
Yes, I am a quilter. I quilt all the time almost every day. I started as a child and have gone from doing everything by hand and being very traditional to taking classes and learning new things. It is important as an appraiser that you keep current with new techniques so that you know what you are looking at on a quilt.
I make about three bed quilts a year and then many table runners, throws and crib quilts. I am fond of art quilts but really haven’t made any yet.
4) Why would someone want to get an appraisal?
There are several reasons. If you are going to ship a quilt you may need an appraisal so that you can insure it. Collections in your home may need insurance as well. Quilters selling a quilt sometimes get an appraisal so that they have a realistic idea of what to ask for the quilt. Quilters who sell their work on a regular basis usually keep a record of their sales so they know where to price their quilts. Donating quilts for a tax write off also requires an appraisal if the quilt is of high dollar value. Sometimes appraisals are needed when dividing an estate. I have appraised many wedding quilts because grandma or mom wanted her grandchild /child to know that the quilt had a dollar value as well as a sentimental one.
5) Tell us a little about the process of appraisal-what aspects do you look at to determine the value of a quilt? Is age a factor: Condition? Stitching Method? Fabric use?
Mismatched seams, a fabric that has been turned the wrong way, etc. The process is fairly simple starting out with the physical description of the quilt. Name, pattern name, size, date made, maker, quilter if different than maker, what is the backing, colors, fabric used,bbatting type, then a description of the construction techniques, like English Paper pieced, or hand pieced, machine quilted or tied.
Then a description of the quilt: If it’s fairly traditional, how many blocks, layout, sashing, borders. If its nontraditional you might say a forest scene with children in the foreground, or a variety of colored horizontal lines of different lengths and widths are crossed diagonally by a black arrow. Quilting pattern and amount is also listed. The next section is workmanship and that includes quilting and construction. The terms Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good and Excellent are used here. The appraiser chooses one by her knowledge of what she has observed over her career. Excellent is uncommon as is Poor. The condition is also noted. In an antique or vintage quilt the condition is very important. Provenance is also noted if known such as: made for my daughters 50th Birthday or juried into AQS Quilt Week Paducah KY 2025, made by the widow of John Quincy Adams.
Documentation: What resources did the appraiser use for determining value? This could be: regional and national locations where newly made quilts are sold such as quilt dealers, etsy, auctions where newly made quilts are featured or locations where trending fabric lines are available and the cost of hand and machine work in the area. Comparable Sales is the usual method used for quilt value but occasionally a newly made quilt has to be valued by Cost to Reconstruct because there is nothing similar that has sold that it can be compared to.
Current market conditions also play a major role in the value of a quilt. The quilt market is
currently depressed. Generally antique and vintage quilt value has declined in the past ten to fifteen years. Newly made quilt value is also low. People who do not quilt may fail to realize the cost of fabric and notions and the time that goes into making a quilt.
6) Do mistakes matter in a quilt?
They can if they are distracting to the overall design of the quilt. We all know that sometimes mistakes turn into an even better design. But, overall mismatched seams, cut off points, loose quilting would lower the workmanship which is important to the value.
7) What is the farthest you’ve travelled to do appraisals?
The Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. I appraised there several times at a small quilt show. I lived in Alaska for about 12 years so I would go back to visit friends and family.
8) What type of quilts are you personally drawn to?
When I was a kid quilts were at grandma’s and I was attracted to a cream and orange soft quilt. It was machine pieced and hand quilted and had been washed many times. I now own it and still love it. Now I like bright colors and big graphic designs in both art and bed quilts. I am also drawn to incredible quilting both by hand and machine.
9) What’s the best way to store a quilt?
If you only have a few the best way to store them is flat on a spare bed covered with a clean white sheet. Quilts need to be out of sunlight and away from a heat/air duct. I have a dehumidifier in my quilt storage area(basement) because I live in a state with high humidity. Quilts can also be stored folded in a pillow case and try placing them side by side like books instead of stacking them. Folded quilts need to be folded along different lines at least once a year. Do not store quilts on wood without first covering with cloth.
11) Do you have any pearls of wisdom for quilters considering appraisals? What about people wanting to become appraisers?
When a quilt is lost or damaged it is much better to have an appraisal than to wish you had one. If you have an interest in becoming a quilt appraiser, do it. I retook the quilt appraisal three-day class in Paducah this year and many of the students were retired and looking for a way to involve their love of quilting into a revenue generating pursuit.
Happy Quilting from Gail!
For more information, or to contact Gail, visit PAAQT website (Professional Association of Appraisers-Quilted Textiles). http://paaqt.com/