Quilts: American & European Textile Art & Folk Traditions
Quilts are layered textile bedcoverings consisting of a decorative top, insulating batting, and backing fabric, held together by stitching (quilting). American quilts, particularly those from the 19th century, are recognized as significant folk art, collected by major museums including the Smithsonian, the Met, and Winterthur. The quilting tradition encompasses a vast range of styles, from the geometric precision of Amish quilts to the exuberant applique work of Baltimore Album quilts, from utilitarian scrap quilts to elaborately planned whole-cloth masterpieces.
Categories & Styles
Pieced Quilts
- Geometric patterns: Log Cabin, Nine Patch, Bear's Paw, Ohio Star, Drunkard's Path, and hundreds of named block patterns
- Crazy quilts (1880s-1900s): Irregular silk and velvet patches embellished with embroidery, painted motifs, and ribbons; the Victorian era's most exuberant textile art
Applique Quilts
- Baltimore Album quilts (1840s-1860s): Elaborate pictorial blocks with floral baskets, eagles, buildings, and wreaths; the most valuable American quilt type
- Hawaiian quilts: Bold, symmetrical designs cut from single pieces of fabric, inspired by paper snowflake cutting
- Floral applique: Rose of Sharon, Princess Feather, and other botanical patterns
Regional Traditions
- Amish quilts (1870s-1940s): Bold geometric designs in solid-color fabrics; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania pieces are most valued
- African American quilts: Improvisational patterns, bold colors, and asymmetric compositions; Gee's Bend quilts brought major recognition
Auction Price Ranges
| Type | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility/scrap quilt (19th c.) | $50 | $200 | $600 |
| Pieced quilt (good pattern) | $100 | $500 | $2,000 |
| Crazy quilt (elaborate) | $200 | $800 | $3,000 |
| Amish quilt (Lancaster County) | $1,000 | $5,000 | $50,000+ |
| Baltimore Album quilt | $5,000 | $20,000 | $200,000+ |
| Hawaiian quilt (19th c.) | $1,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| Gee's Bend quilt | $2,000 | $10,000 | $50,000+ |
Condition Factors
- Fabric integrity is the primary concern: fragile, shattered, or disintegrating fabrics cannot be repaired
- Staining reduces value; light, overall toning from age is acceptable, but dark stains and water damage are problematic
- Color vibrancy matters enormously; faded quilts are worth a fraction of bright, unfaded examples
- Size affects value: full-size bed quilts are more valuable than crib quilts (with some exceptions for exceptional design)
- Original binding should be intact; replaced bindings modestly reduce value
- Quilting density and quality affect value; fine, close quilting demonstrates greater skill and investment
Collecting Tips
- Amish quilts are the blue-chip American textile collectible; Lancaster County pieces with bold, simple geometric designs in the best colors bring extraordinary prices
- Baltimore Album quilts are museum-quality objects; the finest examples are institutional acquisitions
- Fabric dating is essential: examine prints, weaves, and dye characteristics to verify age claims
- Display quilts away from direct sunlight, which causes irreversible fading
- Store quilts rolled (not folded) on acid-free tubes to prevent permanent fold lines
- Documentation (provenance, family history, regional attribution) adds value, particularly for Amish and other regional quilts
- The American Quilt Study Group and International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska are important scholarly resources