D, the quilt. It's gorgeous even as art.

D. the quilt for sure

Quilt

D. Fabric doesn't usually age as well as the other items but that quilt looks to be in great shape. condition matters.

D. The quilt. Since people actually USED quilts everyday, their longevity is much more uncertain than the other pieces.

quilt same reasons as above.

The quilt, but not for the reasons stated above...

...this one is particularly interesting and unique in that it has the flower and pinwheel designs surrounding the central star

The quilt. But if I wasn't worried about investment, I'd go for the framed picture, because that woman's expression is priceless.

I vote for the weather vane.

I like the weathervane. I can't make an educated guess so I'm going to go out on a whim and say that.

Well gee...I was GONNA say the quilt...but just to be differenct, I'll go with the Ox weathervane. I've never seen one before.

Textiles were often considered the most valuable things a family owned, being, for example, part of a woman's dowry. But because they were so valuable, they were often taken well care of, so they are not that rare. So quilts need to be judged on their beauty. And this one is gorgeous.

But I want to throw in my vote for the portrait.

I go with the weathervane.... although those bikes are very, very rare. Most were scrapped for their metal during ww2.

I think its the weathervane too. The style of the painting looks to contemporary. Same with the quilt.

Yeah... just to be different, I'm going to say the bike.

I mean, all the others are gorgeous, but there are lots and lots of quilts, portraits and weathervanes out there to be had. I've not seen any of those old bicycles that actually work. (Mostly just the C. Jere "bike sculpture" to hang on your wall.)

But, really, I don't know anything about anything.

Hmm. While the quilt is beautiful I don't think it is the most valuable. Without any further knowledge of the pieces I'd say the weather vane is the most valuable today. It immediately stood out to me (although I have no idea why...).

I'm going to be different and say the highwheel bicycle.

the painting?

I don't know which is the most valuable, but the only one I want to own is the Ox Weathervane. It's perfect to mix with the primitive pieces I have in my swedish country dining room.

I'm with everyone else and going with D.

I think it's the weathervane. The bike and quilt I believe would go for high 4-digit figure, but the weathervane, if an original design and not mass-produced, is a 5-figure item (in excess of $40-50K).

Bicycle!

While the bicycle is my favorite of the four, I would say the most pricey item is the quilt. Which made my computer screen look like it was pulsating.

I'm going to go with the Ox weathervane. It has that valuable look about it.

I think it's the portrait.

The Ox. Seen another listing for something similar that brought in $56k

I would go for the quilt or the ox, just because I like them best and they would look nice in my home.

I say it's the bicycle... maybe it's early 1800s and super rare.

weathervane - painting isn't overly extraordinary and just not feeling the quilt is the MOST valuable.

Considering that early American weathervanes, quilts, Prior portraits and high wheel bicycles have sold for over $100k at auction, I think any one of them would be a good investment. But, I'd buy the painting.

I'm guessing weathervane. It's the only one I can recall hearing people collect and things that get collected get higher price tags.

I go for the quilt. (but then, I'm a quilt freak) The fabrics alone are priceless for their historical value to quilters. And the piecing, the fact that it's still in good shape, and the color placement all make it valuable

to me, anyway

Gut reaction was quilt, but now I'm thinking bike.
I will be really amused if it is the weathervane, though. This is fun!

The bicycle! It looks from the photo to be in pristine condition! They weren't designed like this for that long.

Hmmm.... over 100K higher??? That's a big difference. I'm going to guess the quilt, but I like the bike the best.

The painting.

The painting.

The expression in her face is quite unique (not the typical fake, reticent smile seen in most paintings in that era). The frame looks original to the painting. She's obviously a woman of rank what with the velvet curtain and seat and the display of her family's property in the background.

P.S. Looking at that quilt could cause hallucinations.

I'm guessing the quilt.

Quilt.

Maybe the ox weathervane because it looks like a lot of it is copper, (note the gree color of the tarnish on the back end) which has gone up in value. Also, most weathervanes, I think, have a flat figure on it, but this ox is three-dimensional.

And some of the metal on the bicycke looks a bit too new.

Gonna have to go with the weathervane.

i'm COWed. heh heh.

the ox is awesome, but i think it's the quilt

I'd say the painting, especially if it is by a well-known artist or of a well-known person. The quilt is amazing too so that would be my second guess.

My vote is for the painting.

What a great game; I have no idea. It could be the painting. Sometimes little known lost artists are worth a lot. It could be the bicycle, but recently I saw a race in England with 200 year old bikes. I don't remember them being worth this much, but each rider was keeping his distance from another. It could be the quilt. They are museum quality quilts around, and this could be one of them. But I'm going with the weathervane. It was my first pick because it doesn't not appear to be mint. If the most distressed is the most valuable, which would be a good way to go in a game, it's the weathervane. But honestly, I have no idea. I'm just guessing. Good game. I'm stumped!

Quilt.

I'm voting weathervane, for no good reason.

FYI, my bro-in-law has a great eye for these things and once sold a chair that he bought for $400 for $1200 in the span of walking from the brim field field to the car. Meanwhile, I'm still stuck with my $400 chair.

I don't think the bicycle , the weather vane or the quilt would even bring $100k. It has to be the portrait. It is somebody famous, I wanted to say Mary Todd Lincoln but I don't think it's her. The face is really familiar. I go with the portrait definately.

Quilt

Susan B. Anthony?

I'm feeling the cow, although it's really hard to know without being able to see the scale of it. I would have said the portrait, except that the face is just so weird - would you want that on your wall?

The quilt.

My husband insists it's the quilt, I'm torn between the quilt and the oil painting. Ok....the quilt.

The weathervane. Super strong hunch but not much to back it up. I used to deal (buy and sell) in early stuff, back in the 70's, and I have to say I saw some weathervanes of this nature go for very high prices.

I go with the ox weathervane. It's an unusual form...and out of the ordinary weathervanes go for big $$$.

I just love the Ox, must give it my vote.

I believe it's the Ox weathervane. It's common to see a rooster, or a boy with a horn... But an ox as a weathervane?

The Bull. For Sure

The Ox. I've never seen anything remotely like it.

I vote for the ox weathervane. It just speaks to me! :p

Yep, the weathervane. It's very special.

Quilt, without a doubt!

Quilt of course.

the ox.. of all the items it is the most unique..

during the 19th century a lot of quilts were made what is special about this one?

the bike would have been mass produced

the painting looks like a knockoff or a study of another painting .. it would only be worth more if it was painted by someone like Lincoln himself.. it looks like a paint by number..

the ox weather vane has my vote..

Quilt, in that they are so popular but, if it were a question of which I'd prefer to own, it would have to be the penny farthing!

OMG - This is so much fun. Great idea! I vote the quilt, although I love them all.

I'm voting weathervane. Not an expert, but I believe they are the most collectable of this grouping. UNLESS the painting is a famous person I don't recognize or by an important painter (I don't believe so, but I'm guessing). I think the other items would be very expensive, too, but not as much as the weathervane.

I'm stuck between quilt and ox!!

For folklorists, whose opinion carries weight in the folk art market, the value of folk art is not determined in quite the same way as other antiques, or even in the same way as fine art.
When considering a quilt, for example, one researches the origin of the quilt and the personal history of the quilt maker. Is the quilt one example out of many existing examples of a pattern/style/fabrication common to a particular area? Was it made from identifiable pieces of fabric (such as old war uniforms, flour sacks, etc.)? Is there documentation about its making? Look up "Quilts Gee Bend" and read a little to see what evidence is presented about the quilts that makes them worthy of our interest.
Some of the most valuable quilts are not necessarily the most beautiful, or even in the best condition.
If you get a chance to go to the Santa Fe Folk Art Museum, you'll see an amazing collection of folk art made from fabric (clothing, quilts, embroidery samples) with wonderful documentation. It's a rare treat.
As to this quilt, the picture isn't big enough and I don't have any information about how and where it was acquired, so I can't comment.

My initial instinct is the quilt, although the answer to this question probably has to do with who created these pieces.

My favorite is the bike. Not sure which one is most valuable but I'd pick the bike up at a flea market if I could only pick one.

Quilt has the highest price.

My fave is the Ox, then the Lady (painting).

Okay, next you announce the drawing to give them away, right??!!

I say the weathervane as well. I read a story about a group of people using helicopters to fly around and steal old weathervanes from church steeples and barns. The article said some weathervanes go for upwards of 200k. But I have seen folk items at auction that looked like some kid made it out of scrap wood and then buried it for several years go for very significant money. The folk art scene is so bizarre, there is just no real way to predict value. I still go with ox.

cow, its the cow

Apartment Therapy,

If you do this do this again, and I hope you do, it might be nice to have the dimensions.

I just found one of these online so I know which one it's not.

I feel really guilty for not choosing the quilt, because I began as a quilter and am now a mixed media textile artist, but I choose the ox weathervane because it appears to be a 3 dimensional piece and that commands very high prices in weathervanes. Ultimately it seems provenance is balanced by insanity to produce the highest value in the 'folk' arts.

For myself, I'd want the bicycle, hands down.

the weathervane is worth $56,288 so it's not that. Hard to believe that a bike is worth $150k+. The quilt is beautiful and looks museum quality but I'm going with the painting. People pay stupid money for paintings

The Quilt

The quilt. Folk art textiles in good shape can go for a lot of money.

Having obsessively watched American Pickers, I suspect the bike will only fetch a few thousand. Also, I suspect that the painting is not worth a lot either unless she's painted by a notable artist. I've seen many fine, antique paintings only go for several thousand at dealers.

I would vote for the cow!

The Quilt. But I'd rather own the painting. :)

I think it's the bicycle.

i think it's D. the quilt.
my husbands thinks C. the ox weather vane.

Quiltmaster here. Guess which one I choose...

assuming that the painting isn't by some important artist my vote would definitely go for the weather vane.

I thought I'd be in the minority by voting for the quilt......I'd say that it is probably the rarest piece with the greatest mass appeal.

Was going to say the ox, until I read that it was a weathervane. So probably isn't that if it's missing a piece.... Then maybe the quilt, but not sure what that white mark is. I think the bicycle then? Don't think the portrait would go for as much as the other items....

Fun! It's like playing Antique Roadshow.

I will go for the Quilt. some of these American folk art quilts can have a very hefty price.

We think it's the quilt. It look beautiful.

I'm going to guess the ox, just because it's my favorite and experience has taught me that I'm cursed so that the thing I like best in any group will always be the most absurdly expensive.

My guess is the quilt. Love this weekend quiz feature!

Weathervane!

I'm mystified as to which one of these is going for over $150,000. (Read the comments folks, you will learn that one of these can't fit the description!)
FYI:
The most expensive quilt ever sold at auction is a Civil War-era quilt known as the Reconciliation Quilt, which the Jameses bought for $264,000 at Sotheby's in 1991, and which is now at the IQSC. [IQSC = International Quilt Study Center, at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.]
SOURCE:
http://www.nysun.com/arts/uncovering-the-quilt/67867/

I say weathervane. That said, the things that do for mucho mucho on Antiques Road Show tend to be paintings.... I like this feature!

Whats the answer? I'd say the quilt.

Weathervane. It's huge, which is rare for a weathervane.

If one of those items is worth $100K more than the others, it's definitely the painting.

Personally, I'd probably choose the bike. That bike is snazzy.

C: cow

bike

I wonder when the answer is coming! Hurry, hurry!

HELLO! HELLO!
It's past the weekend, & WE NEED AN ANSWER!

And details on the pieces.
Please.
Thx.

The answer is posted! http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/inspiration/quiz-answer-can-you-spot-the-most-valuable-antique--127531

I'm torn between c and d. But I'm going with C because of the copper that is used in the weathervan (the greenish hindquarters)

bicycle.

My vote is for the quilt. It is absolutely stunning!

So which one is it? *curious* Did I miss the post with the solution somehow?

So where do I find the most valuable antique from this group? I've obviously totally missed this whole piece!

SO, YEAH, WHERE IS THE ANSWER?