Victorian Crazy Quilt

Appraised on: August 13, 2011

Appraised in: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Appraised by: Nancy Druckman

Category: Rugs & Textiles

Episode Info: Pittsburgh, Hour 3 (#1609)

Originally Aired: February 27, 2012

IMAGE: 1 of 2  

Appraisal Video: (1:22)

GUEST: This was my grandfather's aunt's, who lived in Mercer County, Kentucky, on a farm just outside of Harrodsburg. She was born in 1870, and we think she died in her 20s, so the quilt was probably made in the 1890s.

APPRAISER: Well, it's the ultimate Victorian crazy quilt, and it's called a crazy quilt because each one of these patches of wool and velvet, in this case, are odd shaped, and so they have a crazy, unpredictable kind of pattern to them. And I think every Victorian lady either made one or received one-- there are zillions of them-- but this is far and away the best example I've ever seen. This calla lily is tufted, like a piece of English needlework in the 17th century. And this bird and the swans are three-dimensional. Normally they are flat and sell for about $300. We think this one could be worth between $3,000 and $5,000.

GUEST: Oh, great, wow. My father said, if he ever went on the Antiques Roadshow, that he would bring this quilt.