illinois

As it is right now, this top has "antique" value. Any work done on it at this point will discredit that and it will be considered to be finished as of now.. Consider if you want it to remain as an antique or do you want to finish it and enjoy it as a finished project? My own opinion is to finish it in the method of the time it was created to keep it as true to that time as possible. I definitely would not long-arm or machine quilt it!
That is a beautiful top. I am a hand quilter and enjoy finishing these projects, imagining the original quilter as she carefully chose the fabrics and spent time putting this together.
Now do you want to enjoy it "as is" or as a finished project? (Please hand quilt it!)

ptquilts

Agree, I would not send it to a long armer. Since it already has puffiness problems, a hand quilter would be better able to "ease" in the fullness (done it many times). But have it professionally appraised before doing anything. It's lovely. When I was buying and selling antiques many years ago I would have jumped at that.

quiltingshorttimer

bkay raises excellent points. One thing I would add is without a provenance (who made and when, where that info came from) its' value historically is lessened. Even just as an antique, without provenance its monetary value will be less. You don't say where it comes from, but if you know that info , along with date made, etc (helps to have the info written by either original maker, or the person that had it before you,etc) certainly would get it appraised before you do anything else with it.

luvstoquilt

I would want to hand quilt it after it is appraised. The appraiser cAn give you suggestions

constantine63

Hello everyone, apologies for being late in getting back. Long story short, I was waiting for a reply from my cousin about the quilt top, hoping that she might have a bit more info on it. Around 1986, I helped my cousin and her husband clean out his great aunt's house when she passed. The quilt top was from that cleaning - they were going to throw it in the trash! I did find out that it was most likely made by the husbands grand mother, but no idea as to when. They lived in a small town in Western PA. Anyhow, after storing it for all these years and getting into quilting myself several years ago, I decided to revisit this top and that is what led to my initial ask.
So thank you all for the ideas, opinions, thoughts and advice! I appreciate all the various points of view. As I've pondered what to do, I decided that for now it will go back in to storage untouched. When covid releases us from captivity I will seek out an expert who will hopefully be able to help me decide what the best path forward is. My interest is really in the historical aspect of the top and if it seems a good move, I am wiling to donate it to a museum that will honor it. All of you that took the time to respond really helped me figure out a plan. Many thanks!!