I have a question about buying an Amish quilt.
 

Is buying an Amish quilt a good investment? I mean would it go up in value like you see some on Antiques Roadshow?

Depends on the quilt. If vintage then perhaps. If a new one, then it provably won't. I am not sure a quilt is a good investment at this time in our economic history. A quilt appraise would have a better answer. I suggest a lot of research before making a large purchase.

Yes, That is what I thought. I am going to a big Quilt auction in Michigan tomorrow and thought about spending 1,000.00 on a good quilt for an investment, but maybe I should wait.

Think of it like art. Not all art is a good investment that will appreciate over time. In fact, most won't. The same is true of quilts. I would never advise anyone to invest $1,000 in a quilt these days, expecting it to appreciate. Chances are about 99+ out of 100 it will not appreciate.

Also, have you considered liquidity? Quilts are not exactly a liquid investment vehicle. It's *hard* to find a buyer for a quilt. At least with art there are art galleries that will handle the buying and selling of works of art. There is no equivalent of that for quilts, which means that there is a lot less buying and selling going on.

Is this quilt auction for rare vintage quilts? Or for newly made quilts? The quilts that you see on the road show are rare, unique, and in some way of historical value. You will not get that in a new $1,000 quilt purchased at a quilt auction. A vintage quilt of that price *may* appreciate in value over time, but then again it may not. Not all art appreciates over time.

I don't think quilts should be considered "investments" at all. Buy one because you want it to keep you warm or as an accent piece. That's it, IMO.

I would only buy it if I was going to keep it and enjoy it myself or hand it down to one of my kid's or grand kid's. As an investment I would not take the chance.

Also keep in mind that it may just be Amish quilted and not Amish pieced. I read an article recently that some Amish quilts are not totally Amish made.

LOL, quilts are quilts. Judge by the quality, not the origin.
I'm trying not to laugh too hard. Generally speaking, the Amish quilts in this area are highly sought after.

Ignore my remarks. I glossed over the "investment".

Or did you simply mean is 500,800 or a 1000 for a quilt, money well spent? If you want it & like it, buy it.

We lived in Amish country in Ohio for about 7 years in 1988-95 and they always had an auction in the spring to support the school supplies/doctors/all for the handicapped. We bid and purchased a quilt every year and the price was always between $900 and $1200. They were ALL handmade by the women of the community and ALL the proceeds went to the school. People came from as far as New York to purchase these quilts. You could go around and examine them, check out the work, see which women completed which quilt. I still have all these remarkably beautiful quilts and even tho I am have now started quilting, I still look in amazement at the quality of the work and the durability of these quilts. I love and use each and every one of them. We did it to get beautiful quilts without the guilt of spending so much money for the quilts. We gained and they gained. Investment, not so much.

I am confused? What exactly makes an Amish quilt worth more than one made by anyone else? Do you think they hand piece them?....they use treadle machines. Does a quilt that is handquilted have more value than one that has been beautifully and intricately machine quilted? Does a quilt that my great-grandmother made have less value than one made by the Amish? I live in the midst of the Amish and while I think that their way of life is very uncomplicated, I don't value their quilts over any other.

If you want to see the value of many quilts, go to a consignment mall or a local auction. Around here, a "old" quilt can usually be purchased for a hundred or so

If you prefer to know you have an original Amish made quilt then that's what you will be happier buying.

if it is well taken care of- stored properly- used gently- and saved for your grandkids/great grandkids they may have a real treasure- location matters, timing matters, the current market matters- just like with stocks- values go up & down- but any quilt- amish or not- if it is appealing, has excellent craftmanship, visual appeal, and a (timeless) design if cared for will at some point increase in value....if taken to the right place at the right time.
appraisals go up & down constantly- one quilt i have has been appraised 3 times- all 3 times the value has been very different than the time before- and started high-went way down- then bounced back up even higher====it all depends and doesn't really matter if it's Amish or any other style.

Some purported Amish quilts are actually made by others in the community, including the Hmong immigrants. You can find information if you google Hmong quilts/quilting. So- if a quilt is purported to be Amish, don't be fooled by "Locally Made". I have a cousin who is Mennonite in PA. Not all Amish eschew electricity- it varies by community and their Bishops' edicts. As a financial investment- be aware that fabrics are fragile, can be damaged by dyes, touching, light and humidity. Conservation storage is crucial. Most quilts do not appreciate much in value, and appraisals are very subjective. So- buy what you enjoy but don't expect a return on your investment. Old/rare quilts do sometimes appreciate, but it's like investing in an oriental carpet. You need to be extremely knowledgeable, and they can be difficult to sell for what you hope to gain.

We watched a show awhile ago where there was a sewing machine set up. Looked all electrical to us. But may have been generator powered. Not sure if all quilts are sewn on treadles.
Here is one interesting site that answers a lot of questions: http://www.amishquilter.com/interest...mish-quilters/
Me, I would purchase an Amish quilt because of the history of their culture tied to it. They also shop in our stores and do support our communities with their hard-earned money just like the rest of us do, (they do pay taxes, except SS), so we don't hesitate to purchase the flowers, vegetables, and furniture from them. We have bought some of the most beautiful flower containers for very little from the Amish.

I would not buy any quilt for an investment. I would only buy it if I really liked it and wanted it, about the way I am with most things.

I understand that some Amish are "outsourcing" quiltsto Hmongs for at least the piecing and maybe the quilting.

I bought a quilt at a bargain price about 3 years ago. I had seen one exactly like it for sale much much more than what I bought mine for. In the 3 years since then, the price has dropped. This is not a good time to make money on a quilt. If you are very very young, then if you wait until you are old, then maybe. And that's a big maybe.

Is this the Auction in Clare? I was considering going myself.

Clara Kupk.....????? from Canada makes stunning quilts. I can't spell the last name. Where in Michigan are you going?

Marcia

I attended a spring auction in Lancaster County, PA last week. The quilts were all made in the community by Amish or Mennonite quilters but were newly made. I was disappointed that I saw only one vintage quilt which was a snow ball of ordinary quality. I didn't see the final value of that. The sale was a benefit for the community fire house. There were many bidders. Most of the quilts were 90 by 100 approximately and the final prices ranged from 250 to 750. One quilt sold at 1000.00. The auction began with more than 200 quilts. My opinion is that in time a signed, dated quilt of good quality and design will hold it's value or appreciate. The Amish made quilts are considered collectible but I agree with thinking of the quilts as "art.". That doesn't mean the monetary value will increase. Just my 2 cents on this topic :)

Hmong embroidery is beautiful and has been shown in art galleries (Long Beach, CA in the late 1980's). The embroideries tell a story. Whether you buy quilts, or anything else, buy because you like it. Investments in anything are "iffy" right now. Except maybe Facebook stock...if you can get in on the initial offering! LOL

I never thought of a quilt as an investment.

Remember an Amish quilt and a quilt made by the Amish are two different things. Real Amish quilts use black and the bright Amish colors. Most quilts I've seen at auctions are "quilts made by the Amish". Imthink you need to buy something you like and is "valuable to you".

If you mean the traditional, antique Amish quilts in deep solid colors ... yes they CAN be a good investment ...
If you mean a recent Amish quilt made of print fabrics ? not so much ... it won't be worth much more than ANY hand-made quilt you'd buy in the US. Evidently they don't make many in the beautiful solid colors anymore ... a real shame.
Buyer beware ... do your research ... they may or may NOT be made by the Amish (Hmong piecers etc) or may only be quilted by them. We saw a lot of "Amish" quilts two years ago at a big auction here in Texas - they were NOT well made and all in 1980's calicos ...

Ive been to the sale in Clare a few times, but have never sat in on the auction. It is always very crowded in there and i couldnt even get in to look at the quilts. We are usually gone for the holidays and this year we are around but busy getting ready for my DS and family's visit next month. Probably wont get to go. Sigh. If i were to buy a quilt, i think i would get one because i love it and not so much for an investment. My Dh probably wouldnt let me buy one cuz i could just make it( his words) but i've seen many out there that i wouldn't even attempt. Too intricate! And past my ability.good luck if you go!

i would say take that $1,000.00 and buy facebook stock. the initial ipo is today. it's a sure bet that asset will appreciate in value.:thumbup:

I agree with you. Buy it because you love it and will use it. I can't imagine it would appreciate in any valuable way in your life or your children's so why take the chance. If you're looking for investment opportunities, I don't think an Amish quilt would be it. But that s not to say they aren't worth the money. A car is not really an investment either and look now much we pay for those!

Tacking the word "Amish" to a quilt does nothing for the quilt. Its quality and workmanship are what makes a quilt collectible-------and that better be ultra/mega/extra fine quality.

:) Too many responses to read them all. However I want to make a point. I was in the Amish "country" last year. I questioned 2 shop owners about how many Amish are there and how can they get so many quilts done to have EVERY shop selling them (it seemed). WELL, big surprise --- the Amish are not the only ones that make them. Others in the community do the sewing, too. As long as the quilt met certain requirements (hand pieced/handquilted among others) then they were considered AMISH! SO -- to answer your question -- i wouldn't buy one thinking it's an investing in AMISH.....

When I was working and able I bought 2 Amish quilts-I use them and they will never be 'antiques'. I bought them because I liked them and didn't quilt at that time. Even now I would not make the patterns as the are very labour intense.

Mine are used daily and not an investment-it never crossed my mind. I just liked them.

Isn't that what quilting is all about?

I can't imagine wrapping up in an "investment." Quilts are made to be loved and enjoyed.

Unlike art such as paintings, however, things made of fabric will eventually deteriorate.

I'd rather invest in one of Born To Handquilt's

If you want an investment, buy silver dollars or 1 oz. ingots. The price of silver is at an all time low ($28) and try to find someone who will sell it for less than $2 over spot. Believe me, it's going up again soon. There shouldn't be a tax on this because you're just exchanging money.

I attend the Amish auction at Cannelburg, IN every year. There are approximately 150-200 Amish made and quilted quilts auctioned off. I have bought two there-one I paid $450 for and the other $550. Both were queen size.
Then, four years ago, I found an Amish lady in Topeka, IN to make a quilt for my new King size bed. She made the quilt and two king sized pillow shams for $500. I selected and paid for the fabric ahead of time. Then, I bought another Amish pieced and quilted queen size quilt at an Amish owned quilt shop in the Shipshewana area for $700. I treasure all of them and probably will not buy anymore. They are SO well made and beautifully quilted. I consider them a treasure, but probably no one else would. They're just gorgeous.

If you are looking for an investment, buy silver or gold bullion. Silver is selling for around $30/troy ounce today. Gold at about $1600/troy ounce. Over the long term, precious metals (gold, platinum, palladium, silver and copper) are some of the best investments around. Granted, bullion is NOT as pretty as quilts are, but it is a much more solid (no pun intended) investment than quilts can ever hope to be. JMHO.

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Originally Posted by Candace (Post 5223529)

I don't think quilts should be considered "investments" at all. Buy one because you want it to keep you warm or as an accent piece. That's it, IMO.

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Throughout recorded history, that's what quilts and/or blankets were for. The “investment” part was simply a portable device-rolled up and taken away-that can be transported with ease during times of migration and used mostly up. The quilts were something a busy wife or daughter (sometimes the men, though rarely) would do during lull at the farm or at night before bed. It was a thrifty means of using up the odd & ends of sewing. That’s it!

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Originally Posted by Monroe (Post 5223950)

Some purported Amish quilts are actually made by others in the community, including the Hmong immigrants. You can find information if you google Hmong quilts/quilting. So- if a quilt is purported to be Amish, don't be fooled by "Locally Made". I have a cousin who is Mennonite in PA. Not all Amish eschew electricity- it varies by community and their Bishops' edicts. As a financial investment- be aware that fabrics are fragile, can be damaged by dyes, touching, light and humidity. Conservation storage is crucial. Most quilts do not appreciate much in value, and appraisals are very subjective. So- buy what you enjoy but don't expect a return on your investment. Old/rare quilts do sometimes appreciate, but it's like investing in an oriental carpet. You need to be extremely knowledgeable, and they can be difficult to sell for what you hope to gain.

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Heed the above well.

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Originally Posted by justflyingin (Post 5225867)

Unlike art such as paintings, however, things made of fabric will eventually deteriorate.

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Or through vigorous and constant use in a home. How do you think people of all classes survived the elements?

Read this article written by a professional quilt/textile appraiser It just might open your eyes about the reality of "investing" into common household products, no matter how beautiful it might be:
http://planetpatchwork.com/appraise.htm

I would invest into something more durable & portable. Like Gold & Silver.