Professional Association of Appraisers-Quilted Textiles will be on hand to give qualified appraisals for any attendee. Appraisers are certified by the American Quilters Society. For a nominal fee, they will give verbal or written notification of a quilt’s value.
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Photo courtesy of Gregory Case Photography[/caption]
Violet Vaughnes, AQS (American Quilters Society) Certified Quilt Appraiser and member of PAAQT (Professional Association of Appraisers-Quilted Textiles), is leading the appraisal team at Road 2016. She enjoys “not knowing what the next quilt I see will be and the satisfaction of helping the customer when they say they learned a lot about their quilt.”
Violet explains there are four benefits to having a quilt appraised:
1) Insurance replacement for shipping loss and protection while hanging in a show;
2) Donation value for a museum or a charity;
3) Fair market value- getting an idea of what a quilt MIGHT sell for in today’ marketplace; &
4) To accompany a quilt being gifted.
What can guests expect when they bring their quilt to Road 2016 to be appraised? Violet recommended that guests stay with their quilt and not leave their quilt at the booth. Though someone is at the booth at all times, the appraisers are busy and can’t be responsible for a missing quilt. Besides, they prefer that a customer is present to discuss the particulars of the quilt. Violet suggested that when the appraisal is completed, guests can leave their quilt with Road’s Sack Sitters while they enjoy the show or take a class.
[caption id="attachment_3648" align="aligncenter" width="526"]
Photo courtesy of Gregory Case Photography[/caption]
There are two types of appraisals that are given at the show: verbal and written. Verbal appraisals cost $25.00 per quilt and are not considered an official appraisal, as there is nothing in writing. It is actually a consultation for information that the customer requests to be given such as: What era did the quilt come from? Can you date the fabrics? What kind of quilt is it? How do I care for the quilt? Is it ordinary or rare? How do I go about selling the quilt?
A written appraisal is a document noting many factors about the quilt such as has the quilt-maker won awards, has the quilt been published and where was it published, the quilting styles used, etc. In writing the appraisal, the appraiser follows USPAP (Uniformed Standards of Appraisal Practice) standards. A photo of the quilt on the day it was examined is also included in the report.
A written appraisal is researched; it usually takes 20 minutes to examine, measure, photograph, and gather information about the quilt and values are not given immediately. Reports are sent to the customer in 2-3 weeks following the show’s closure. The cost for a written appraisal is $50 per quilt.
[caption id="attachment_3649" align="aligncenter" width="537"]
Photo courtesy of Gregory Case Photography[/caption]
How are written reports used for future insurance needs? Customers can send the written appraisal to their insurance company to be added as a rider to their homeowner’s policy It is preferable to have quilts appraised when they are in good condition “After the fact” appraisal, such as stolen, damaged, after a fire, etc. may not get full value reimbursement.
Violet is always on the lookout for interesting quilts. When asked for an interesting quilt experience, she told the story of when a few years ago, while driving, she saw an old and worn quilt hanging on the porch of a house. Naturally curious, she pulled over to the side of the road to observe the quilt through her rear view mirror instead of getting out of her car and approaching the house. Why didn’t she get out of the car? Said Violet, “There were several men in motorcycle clothes on the porch. I’m curious, but not stupid.”
Appointments for quilt appraisals during Road 2016 are recommended. While drop-ins are welcomed, they are done on a time available basis. To schedule your appointment for a quilt appraisal during Road 2016, email Violet directly at getfruit@aol.com.
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Posts Tagged ‘American Quilter’s Society’
Road 2016 Special Services: Quilt Appraisals
Saturday, December 12th, 2015Aspiring Appraisers Alert
Wednesday, May 14th, 2014Each year, Road to California offers quilters the opportunity to have their quilts appraised by a Certified American Quilters Society Quilt and Textile Appraiser.
This year, the appraisal booth moved to a new location. Located by itself at the southeast entrance, there was plenty of room – and quiet space — to conduct the appraisals. Charges for this service depended on the appraisal request. An oral evaluation cost $25.00 and a written appraisal cost $50.00.
At any one time, there were three appraisers on hand to assist patrons. One of these appraisers was Beverly Dunivent from Olympia, Washington. She has been conducting appraisals at Road since 1996. She said that the appraisers were very busy scheduling oral evaluations every 30 minutes and that written appraisals took longer. Both types of appraisals required additional time after the show to type up the findings.
Violet Vaughnes, another on-site appraiser, has been appraising quilts since 2004. She had a 40 year career as a Registered Nurse and pursued quilting as a hobby in 1995. She enjoys the camaraderie found within the Appraisal Association and the ability to travel all over the country performing appraisals at various quilting events.
While at the Featured Artist booth, we met JoAnn Woods, a hand quilter for over 30 years and an aspiring appraiser. Joann shared that it was Violet who inspired her to be an appraiser. JoAnn had asked Violet to appraise one of her vintage quilts. While Violet was working, she told JoAnn about how she took the necessary classes to learn how to be an appraiser and JoAnn was impressed with her story.
To prepare for her new venture, JoAnn enrolled in a 3 day required appraiser course offered at Paducah by the American Quilters Society. She is also reading everything she can get her hands on regarding quilt history. She considers appraising as a form of the game, Clue, asking questions like, Who started this quilt? and Why wasn’t the quilt ever finished? From her training, JoAnn has learned that a quilt isn’t always incomplete because its maker passed away. Sometimes a quilt isn’t finished because the maker ran out of fabric or time, or money. JoAnn plans on starting her appraisal business after she retires in five years.
Is being a quilt appraiser in your future?
Did you have any surprises with a quilt you had appraised?
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What's Your Quilt Worth?
Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
For many years, Road to California has offered the service of representatives from the Professional Association of Appraisers-Quilted Textiles to give qualified appraisals for any attendee. Appraisers are certified by the American Quilters Society. For a nominal fee, they will give verbal or written notification of a quilt’s value. One of this year’s appraisers, Anne Copeland, answered some commonly asked questions about quilt appraisals:
Why would I want to have a quilt appraised?
1. Economics– If the quilt is worth something, you might want to sell it;
2. Displaying at a Quilt Show– If a quilt is going to be shown outside of your home, it no longer falls under your regular homeowner’s insurance. A quilt rider (requiring an appraisal) is required to extend your policy to include protection at a venue;
3.When Purchasing a Quilt– You want to make sure of the quilt’s actual value before making an offer;
4. When Making a Donation– Museums and charitable organizations require an appraisal before accepting quilts as gifts;
5. Settling an Estate – Due to death or divorce, quilts are sometimes included in an estate’s value, and therefore need to be assessed of their worth.
What is the difference between an Evaluation and an Appraisal? An evaluation is a verbal acknowledgement that the quilt has some monetary worth. You would get an evaluation if you just want to know if your quilt has any value. An appraisal is more formal. It is actual written documentation showing the worth of the quilt and is needed whenever a monetary transaction is involved (like selling the quilt).
What is considered when appraising a quilt?
Age– This is determined by the prints and colors of the fabrics used. Also, whether the quilt’s design is scrappy or fancy.
Purpose– Is it a utilitarian quilt or was it made for a special purpose like a wedding celebration or birth of a baby?
Style– Is the quilt style antique, contemporary, or traditional? Is it an art quilt or wearable art?
How long does an appraisal take? The appraisal begins with the owner filling out a questionnaire on what basic information they know about the quilt. Then, depending on how unique the quilt it is, the appraisal can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour to complete.
Whether your quilt is a family heirloom, personal treasure, or historic relic, having it appraised provides valuable information and peace of mind.
Have you had any of your quilts appraised? Why or why not?
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