Have you ever wondered what your quilts would be appraised for?
The TQG Appraisal team are proud to provide this service.
Dates for Appraisal Days for 2021:
- 17 April and 16 October
- Paperwork to the Appraisal Administrator (details on form) at least 2 weeks prior to these dates, please.
The application has been updated
- Please note change of term from valuation to Appraisal.
- Appraisal Review If you would like a quilt that has been appraised in the past to have that appraisal reviewed, please complete the Review form 1
Appraisal Application forms.
Please complete both forms.
How will my quilt be appraised?
When a quilt is appraised by the Guild, we follow the methods used by some of the larger inter-state guilds. There are four qualified appraisers involved; three will value the quilt and the fourth will act as scribe.
The quilt is held up in order to assess the visual impact. It is then laid out on a table, measurements are checked, and the quilt is examined in detail. Each valuer has a score sheet which consists of two sections, firstly the quilt as a whole covering general appearance, design, colour and overall effect. The second section is workmanship which reviews accuracy of the piecing, evenness of quilting stitches etc.
Each section has a sub-division to which points have been allocated, and each valuer works independently and scores each sub-division. Upon completion, the valuer totals the scores she has given in each sub-division and this results in a total score out of 100. The three appraisers’ scores are averaged.
There is a chart which gives a scale value for each percentage point. The value is applied to the square meterage of the quilt. This method takes into account the size of the quilt so a large quilt will have a greater value than a small quilt with the same average percentage.
The appraisers do not sit around, have a discussion, and come up with a value. They go through a prescribed procedure, and the value is calculated from an independent scale. The appraisal process is an attempt to apply an objective methodology to what can be a very subjective thing.
The valuers are unaware of the actual cost of commercial quilting, patterns, materials etc. They assess the durability and quality of the materials used for the purpose intended and score appropriately. Design and the quality of quilting are assessed based on the actual result, not the cost of achieving that result.
(Article by Chris Coulbeck-McMurray)
What the Appraisers Look For
When valuing a quilt, the Appraisal Committee uses a point system. An average of the points allocated by all appraisals are given a figure in dollars according to a scale. This figure is multiplied by the square measurement of the quilt to give the appraisal of the quilt.
All aspects of the quilt are carefully considered under the headings of:
General Appearance
- Design, colour, quilting pattern and/or originality
- Elements of design
- Choice and use of colour
- Choice and use of quilting design
- Originality of design or use of traditional design
Workmanship
- Piecing and/or applique
- Hand quilting or machine quilting techniques
- Precision and finishing of binding and edges
- Presentation
- Fabric choice
These headings cover many questions relating to the design and workmanship of the quilt. Each are allocated a number of points, which give a percentage. As each valuer (no less than three for each appraisal) will allocate a different percentage, the totals are all added together and an average taken.
Points that Appraisers look for include the following:
- Are the opposite sides of the quilt equal in length?
- Is the binding applied evenly and stitched invisibly?
- Do the points of triangles meet precisely without the tips of the triangles being nipped off?
- Do fabrics and colours compliment each other?
- Does the quilting design compliment the quilt?
- Is there embroidery or other embellishment featured?
- Are the quilting stitches even?
- Do borders, bindings or other edge treatments enhance the overall appearance?
