Before Moorestown resident Karen Dever retired as a teacher, she connected with someone who was training to become a certified quilt appraiser.
She became interested in the process and would go on to take classes through the American Quilter’s Society (AQS) to become an appraiser, something she loves.
“I can’t own all the quilts in the world, but I can own them for 30 minutes or 40 minutes when they come on my table,” Dever said. “I see the gamut – from quilts made in the early 1800s to a quilt that was finished yesterday.”
According to Dever’s website, the award-winning quilter has been involved with the practice for more than 20 years and is a teacher, designer and AQS-certified quilt appraiser. She formerly taught at The Village Quilter in Mount Holly.
She compared the profession to appraising a home or a piece of jewelry.
“(It’s) identifying when the object was made, and I can probably date something that’s brought to me within 20 years of when it was made,” Dever explained.
“Then, you go about the process of identifying the physical features of the quilt: What’s the pattern? What’s the size? How is it made? …” she added. “Then of course what comes into (it) is what’s the purpose of the appraisal?”
A quilt appraisal identifies the value of the piece required by the IRS for gift, donation or estate purposes. A quilt with an insurance appraisal can be a gift to family and friends, but without a written appraisal, damage or loss of the owner’s textile can mean an owner’s insurance company might give that person the value of that commercial blanket in return.
“What gets me excited is seeing something that I’ve never seen before,” Dever observed of what she enjoys about the job. “Even if it’s one piece of fabric in a quilt, I can say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen that fabric before,’ so that type of thing.”
Dever will be at the Smith-Cadbury Mansion, home of The Historical Society of Moorestown, on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to appraise quilts. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the society.
“I hope we see some fabulous quilts … that people don’t know that they have,” she said. “Sometimes people don’t realize what they have … I look forward to being able to help people put a name to something or put the right date to it.”
To set up an appointment for appraisal, email moorestownhistory@comcast.net or call (856) 235-0353.
