I agree with #16 & 17. The notion that hand pieced quilts are weak seamed is nonsense.....better make quilt museums aware of that, or people who own and/or use those.......my thinking is all the pre washing, constant regular" washing is more of a culprit....I have a few Amish pieced and quilted quilts and I can assure you they have yet to be washed.....
that top you have is too unique to just be tied.......perhaps you or a bee could tackle it for hand quilting, even if done with a primitive (large) stitch. I know you were not given that option, but it could be suggested JMHO