Dana Balsamo
Contact
Dana Auctions LLC
Princeton, NJ
Biography
Dana Balsamo is a nationally recognized quilt appraiser and auctioneer with a lifelong passion for antique and vintage textiles. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, Dana is the owner of Dana Auctions LLC, an auction house specializing in antique and vintage quilts, linens, lace, and other textiles. With close to three decades of hands-on experience, she has earned a reputation for her deep knowledge, integrity, and enthusiasm in the field of textile history and valuation.
Dana began quilting in 1996, launching her first textile business, Material Pleasures, in 2000. Appraising professionally since 2007, she acquired her Quilt Appraiser Certification in 2014 through the American Quilter’s Society and maintains compliance with USPAP standards. Dana lectures frequently on quilt history, fabric dating, and textile preservation, and has contributed to multiple books on antique quilt care and history.
In 2019, Dana became a licensed auctioneer in Pennsylvania, later expanding to Kentucky, and founded Dana Auctions in 2020. She now conducts monthly auctions that draw collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. Dana is a member of the NJ State Society of Auctioneers, the PA Auctioneer Association, and the National Auctioneers Association. She is currently attending the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI), the industry's most prestigious professional designation.
In 2024, Dana joined ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's Season 29 stop in Urbandale, Iowa, as a textile appraiser, bringing her passion and expertise to a national audience. She also serves as a Benefit Auctioneer for the American Quilt Study Group and other non-profit organizations.
Dana lives in Princeton with her husband, Joe, and three dogs, and continues to champion the artistry and historical significance of antique quilts and textiles through her work.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is an antiques appraisal event and television production; we do not buy or sell objects, and conducting any business with an appraiser at the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event is strictly forbidden.
If you decide to do business with an appraiser who has appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, please keep in mind these tips before consigning or selling an item:
-Get more than one referral and check references
-Get valuations of your item from more than once source
-Compare options between different types of sellers, i.e., a dealer versus an auction house
-If you are considering consigning an object for auction, be sure to inquire how the item will be priced, the size of the fee, and the expected amount of time the process may take. Find out what will happen if it doesn't sell.
-Check the appraiser's professional associations (such as International Society of Appraisers, American Appraisers Association, National Auctioneers Association)
-Consult an attorney before signing a contract
-Whatever kind of transaction you decide to enter into, always get a detailed written receipt for your records
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s pool of experts are professionals with a wide range of experience in the antiques, fine art and collectibles community, and they are from a diverse background of auctioneers, dealers and appraisers.
All ROADSHOW appraisers are independent volunteers who donate their time and expertise to PBS and who pay their own expenses to be on the show. All business transactions are independent from ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.
Recent Appraisals
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Tiffany & Co. Needle Lace Fan, ca. 1885
appraisal
Hand Appliqué Quilt Top, ca. 1860
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