Slave Quilt, ca. 1830

Appraised on: July 12, 2003

Appraised in: Savannah, Georgia

Appraised by: Nancy Druckman

Category: Rugs & Textiles

Episode Info: Savannah, Hour 2 (#811)

Originally Aired: April 5, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 3  

Appraisal Video: (2:33)

GUEST: I purchased this quilt approximately, like, eight years ago at an auction down in Arkansas. And this quilt has an African motif design on it. The pattern here represents the Chango deity and the colors-- red, white and blue-- stamp of protection.

APPRAISER: So it was made by an African-American slave in the South, but incorporating motifs and colors that come out of that culture.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: And what do you know about the provenance?

GUEST: Actually, I found out that it came from the Polk estate and I was able to get the paperwork with the quilt.

APPRAISER: Right. That actually is one of the most interesting aspects of this remarkable survivor, because in all of this kind of African-American material, as with all other kinds of antiques, the provenance, the history of ownership is very key to the value. And what makes this so sensational beyond what it looks like and what it represents is the fact that there is documentation that comes along with it-- an inventory that was done for Mr. Polk's estate when he died in the spring of 1864. And in this inventory is listed all of his worldly possessions, his slaves and quilts.

GUEST: And the quilts, right.

APPRAISER: And also this piece has been used in two major exhibitions that have occurred in the last several years,

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: both at the Smithsonian Institution and at the Schomburg Center in New York. And here you can see that it's been used for the cover and a large color illustration in the book. So this piece is listed in Mr. Polk's inventory at the time of his death, which was 1864, but it's actually earlier, right?

GUEST: Yes, I believe the quilt is dated between 1825, 1830.

APPRAISER: Right. So you put all of that interesting documentation together and you've got something which could be $40,000 or $50,000 or $60,000.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: Right.

APPRAISER: Which is amazing.

GUEST: It's amazing. Wow.

APPRAISER: But it's rare to find all of these things coming together in this way.

APPRAISER: Wow. I'm excited. I want to fall down.

GUEST: It's an amazing survivor.

APPRAISER: Yes, it is.