Material value: Appraiser says a lot can affect the worth of a quilt

"Yes there is the patchwork quilt! Looking to the uninterested observer like a miscellaneous collection of odd bits and ends of calico, but to me it is a precious reliquary of past treasures; a storehouse of valuables." —"The Patchwork Quilt," 1845

Bobbie Aug bought her first antique quilt when she was 18. "I have always been drawn to cloth and to women's work. I started out as a home-sewer. Most quilters my age started out with sewing."

But she was also fascinated with old things and even became an antique dealer. Over the years, the two interests meshed. "I became knowledgeable about the age and value of quilts."

In 1989, when the American Quilter's Society started offering a discipline in quilt appraising, Aug was one of the first to sign up. As a certified appraiser, she not only evaluates quilts but also teaches classes and is on the AQS committee that supervises the appraisal certification process.

Now living in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug was recently in Utah to conduct an appraisal seminar for members of the Utah Quilt Guild and talked about the history and value of quilts.

As an appraiser, she has come in contact with thousands of antique and newly made quilts, and "I can honestly say I've never met a quilt I didn't like," she said.

Studying the construction, pattern and designs, the fabrics and colors is a never-ending pleasure, she said. "I hope to never know it all, because it is so fascinating to keep learning."

Quilts document history, she said. "They've been used for generations to mark milestones in people's lives, such as births, weddings, anniversaries and deaths. They express friendship and have been used to document political opinion and patriotism. They have been associated with tragedies, both natural and man-made." After events such as 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, one of the first things people turn to for comfort is quilts, said Aug.

A lot of things can affect the worth of a quilt — such as the rarity of pattern and design, the workmanship or fame of the quiltmaker, and events or happenings associated with the quilt. But the prime consideration is condition, she said. "Condition is like location in real estate: condition, condition, condition."

Things such as soil, wear, abuse and staining will detract from the value. So, she urges anyone who has quilts — antique or modern — to take good care of them.