I would have asked what was wrong with it and then asked him to quit beating around the bush. Maybe he had a bad history with your aunt you don't know about. If it was a scrappy quilt, many people are under the impression it was made from rags, even though we know differently. Every quilt has a history with a reason behind it. Many make quilts because they like the style. I've been back and forth with my family about things they like and don't. I take that information and run with it when I think about any gift to give them. There are some who get nothing because no matter what it is, the effort/ thought is never appreciated. They have complained in the past. Even a gift card is not enough (the easy way out not hardly. Not enough). If it were my brother just tell him what the dollar value would be.