Vintage Red + White Drunkards Path
 

I recently picked up a pristine red + white drunkards path top at a flea market. It's hand pieced about 82" x 96". It's definitely old, I think around 1900. I would like to finish it, but I don't want to do anything if it will damage it. Any input on whether I should finish it or leave it be would be much appreciated?
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That is fabulous!
I have learned (through the guild) that any time you add to a vintage piece, the piece is then dated from the date of the newest work done. If you are trying to maintain it's vintage value, then it might not be best to complete it.
However, if you want to finish it so that you can use it, you may want to stalilize it first before quilting or tying it.

I did a search, and came up with lots of advice to finish a vintage quilt top:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=finishing+...=v177-1&ia=web

As Mindless said, a quilt is only as old as it's newest piece.

If it is for you, then finish it however you want. One of the ladies in my group is working on re-piecing some blocks which she feels is post civil war to 1900 fabrics. The original backing was badly stained and couldn't be salvaged. She is using a modern muslin. It is a hand project for her and not a restoration, and that's just fine.

I've been trying to determine the setting, there are definitely blocks with 4 red corners, and the other blocks vary quite a bit. I think it's just funky and not deliberate. It might have never been finished because of that.

that's a great top. I would not finish it.

Have it appraised by a professional quilt appraiser. He/she will be able to tell you if doing anything further to the quilt will reduce it's value. If you are serious about this, please do not take anecdotal or layman's advice about it.

http://www.americanquilter.com/quilt...appraisers.php

Good advice so far.
My 2 cents- If I found that fabulous piece and wanted to quilt it I would definitely hand quilt it. Machine quilting is beautiful and has it's place but not on a vintage piece like that. As I said- my 2 Lincolns :)

Thanks for this list...good info to have!

I agree with all that has been said already. If the piece is for your own enjoyment and not for vintage value, I would certainly finish it so that you can take it out to enjoy. It will stabilize it. But my theory is that quilting should "be consistent". If this was made about 1900, it would not have been machine quilted, especially pantograph. Too, the creator of this did the piecing by hand so the quilting should be, too. Of course, I am a hand quilter most of the time (I do some simple machine quilting or if it will get rough use) but it really bothers me to see something that should have been hand quilted "scribbled on" with something that doesn't highlight the piecing. Why would anyone spend hours embroidering a quilt and then not follow through by machine quilting? If this is for your own enjoyment, I encourage you to finish it and do it by hand. I enjoy doing that as I can get acquainted with the original seamstress. You have then put a part of yourself into making the quilt.

I so agree with Illinois. I am also a hand quilter and I find it so relaxing. Our group has quilted many vintage tops over the years. They are beautiful and personally I label mine with the info of where I got the top, when it was hand quilted, etc. I put as much as I know on the label.