Old utilitarian objects have a lot of charm. Some shops have made a lot of money selling them. I'm thinking of 'After Noah' in Islington. Certain things seem to improve with age? I have a breadboard handed down to me marked deeply by decades of bread cutting lacerations and sawing. I love it.
I don't have the acquisitive gene either, thank goodness. But I really appreciate durability, and will buy things from estate sales because they last. I just like old things too. Thanks for posting.
Love this post. I and my siblings and first cousins have many things handed down from my mom's side of the family, a rich Dutch heritage that can be traced back to the Netherlands for hundreds of years. One of my favorites is my mom's sterling silver birth cup with a Dutch engraving, that now belongs to my daughter who has, as one of her middle names, my mom's great uncle for whom she (my mom) was named. I also love practical and durable things: I have my moms recipe cards that she typed in the 60s, complete with pencil notes on the cards. Ephemera, yes, and full of memories. I also cherish her wooden-handled pastry cutter, the red paint barely visible. Sturdy and well-worn kitchen implements are the best.
My house is full of things inherited from various family (mother, grandfather, aunts) and nothing matches. I love it all. A mahogany breakfront, a cherry secretary, an oak library table, maple cabinets and bookcases - you just can't find furniture like this these days. Same situation with linens and dishes - all with familial roots. I feel like I'm surrounded by family and that makes me smile.
Beautiful, I love how those ordinary everyday items can hold within them the stories of our lives 😊 I moved half way round the world in my 30s and gave away about 95% of everything I owned. I often have little pangs of nostalgia for the smallest of items - a pessel and mortar, a mexican-style drinking glass. Although it was liberating to travel so light, there's loss in that too....
I like your post and follow up comments very much. My mum died a couple of months after I left home for Art School and my dad remarried and moved house 6 months later. I claimed a pretty millefiori brooch and her sewing box at the time… little else. Wearing the brooch and stitching with the threads became more meaningful after I lived past the age she had reached in her life. But it is a very ordinary kitchen knife that I’ve had since my dad died which i won’t part with. A connection to both parents through an everyday tool which links to many meals made and shared - and pleasure in the learned skill of how to sharpen it too.
I have a few such things that I hope will be handed down to my children and grandchildren. A statue of a graceful lady kneeling, holding the face of a doe. It represents, gentility and tenderness to me. Holding that statue is a plantar salvaged from an old apartment on Park Avenue which my husband carried gently to a carpenter who restored it and repaired the bottom shelf. My father’s flag with which his coffin had been draped with. A tribute from the U.S. Army. That’s about the extent of my treasures. I don’t have any of my mother’s belongings because she didn’t own anything of sentimental value that I can remember. I may possibly have a few pieces of embroidered linens from my mother in law.
I have an old beat up round wooden hand mirror that used to belong to my Grandmother. I found it inban old trunk in the attic when i was in my early 20's. My Mom said she didnt want it. It used to be stained black but through years of use the handle now shows the wood grain underneath the black. About 30 tears ago the wooden rim split and the mirror fell out but luckily didn't break. I glued it back on the base and a drop of glue to hold the split rim together. The actual mirror has spots on it from the back side. I notice there is a little glue on the mirror from the repair. I use that mirror everyday. I am 74 now and starting to think of where these things I have will end up.
I called my 30 something 2nd cousin whom I call my niece. She is the only one in our family who likes the old things and the history behind them. I told her about the mirror and an old chest that belonged to my Grandma and Grandpa...her Great Grandparents. I asked if she wanted them and I received an emphatic yes! She does not know that she is also getting her Great Grandma's beautuful old discontinued Spode China for 12 that I am splitting between her and my daughter. The biggest surprise she will get is the family heirloom, 1 carat diamond ring. I have asked all the Uncles and they have agreed she should be the next keeper if the ring. It was my Grandfathers, then my Dad got it, then my Mom wore it, and then my brother had it but never wore it and handed it down to me. I have been wearing the ring since my mother passed. We all know that she will be the best guardian and she will chose wisely, the next 'Keeper of the ring".
I have a small table that was my mom’s. She had it our dining room. I was the one that was responsible for dusting the room every Saturday. Now in my home I have many fond memories of my childhood.
My second kitchen drawer is a similar mix of old hand-me-downs and just one or two newer pieces. My old potato masher, the old serving spoon, some kitschy corn holders from the 70s… And Books. I had to get rid of so many when I downsized, but some you just have to hold on to. So many memories in my little villa. The older you get, the more ‘vintage’ items surround you. But why throw away something that’s perfectly good? Thanks for some lovely thoughts. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. 🤗🤗💕
Ann - I have my mother's wood rolling pin, and her button box. I haven't baked in awhile, but when I do, she will be on my mind. As for the buttons, I just like knowing they were collected by her... and include all the buttons from my Dad's airline uniforms. Thanks for sharing your ladle memories.
I am commenting on every single article..over share oh well..forgive my enthusiasm lol..My weird attitude towards Heirlooms regardless of value monetarily or even sentimental is I use the best silver daily China yep..everything I use wear Mar destroy at times because it is my belief yhat it deserves to be used for its original purpose to treasure it fully. I could stash it all in my China hutch and look at it occasionally not allowing the gransds to touch it...God forbid..or I could use it..hold it..feel the balance and admire the embellishments and even scars in a appreciative nod of sustainability..Just like aging people who may just linger at their last phases or find purpose and appreciation by being useful and vital to the every day workings of life. I have seen it first hand and it's amazing..but as a side note always remember these folks may not remember their name or to put on clothes..but they are the same intelligent resourceful human being they were before disease and deserve our respect and space to be a participant in their life...(even if we have to wash the laundry again... after we find it!..
Old utilitarian objects have a lot of charm. Some shops have made a lot of money selling them. I'm thinking of 'After Noah' in Islington. Certain things seem to improve with age? I have a breadboard handed down to me marked deeply by decades of bread cutting lacerations and sawing. I love it.
I don't have the acquisitive gene either, thank goodness. But I really appreciate durability, and will buy things from estate sales because they last. I just like old things too. Thanks for posting.
Love this post. I and my siblings and first cousins have many things handed down from my mom's side of the family, a rich Dutch heritage that can be traced back to the Netherlands for hundreds of years. One of my favorites is my mom's sterling silver birth cup with a Dutch engraving, that now belongs to my daughter who has, as one of her middle names, my mom's great uncle for whom she (my mom) was named. I also love practical and durable things: I have my moms recipe cards that she typed in the 60s, complete with pencil notes on the cards. Ephemera, yes, and full of memories. I also cherish her wooden-handled pastry cutter, the red paint barely visible. Sturdy and well-worn kitchen implements are the best.
My house is full of things inherited from various family (mother, grandfather, aunts) and nothing matches. I love it all. A mahogany breakfront, a cherry secretary, an oak library table, maple cabinets and bookcases - you just can't find furniture like this these days. Same situation with linens and dishes - all with familial roots. I feel like I'm surrounded by family and that makes me smile.
Beautiful, I love how those ordinary everyday items can hold within them the stories of our lives 😊 I moved half way round the world in my 30s and gave away about 95% of everything I owned. I often have little pangs of nostalgia for the smallest of items - a pessel and mortar, a mexican-style drinking glass. Although it was liberating to travel so light, there's loss in that too....
I like your post and follow up comments very much. My mum died a couple of months after I left home for Art School and my dad remarried and moved house 6 months later. I claimed a pretty millefiori brooch and her sewing box at the time… little else. Wearing the brooch and stitching with the threads became more meaningful after I lived past the age she had reached in her life. But it is a very ordinary kitchen knife that I’ve had since my dad died which i won’t part with. A connection to both parents through an everyday tool which links to many meals made and shared - and pleasure in the learned skill of how to sharpen it too.
I have a few such things that I hope will be handed down to my children and grandchildren. A statue of a graceful lady kneeling, holding the face of a doe. It represents, gentility and tenderness to me. Holding that statue is a plantar salvaged from an old apartment on Park Avenue which my husband carried gently to a carpenter who restored it and repaired the bottom shelf. My father’s flag with which his coffin had been draped with. A tribute from the U.S. Army. That’s about the extent of my treasures. I don’t have any of my mother’s belongings because she didn’t own anything of sentimental value that I can remember. I may possibly have a few pieces of embroidered linens from my mother in law.
I have an old beat up round wooden hand mirror that used to belong to my Grandmother. I found it inban old trunk in the attic when i was in my early 20's. My Mom said she didnt want it. It used to be stained black but through years of use the handle now shows the wood grain underneath the black. About 30 tears ago the wooden rim split and the mirror fell out but luckily didn't break. I glued it back on the base and a drop of glue to hold the split rim together. The actual mirror has spots on it from the back side. I notice there is a little glue on the mirror from the repair. I use that mirror everyday. I am 74 now and starting to think of where these things I have will end up.
I called my 30 something 2nd cousin whom I call my niece. She is the only one in our family who likes the old things and the history behind them. I told her about the mirror and an old chest that belonged to my Grandma and Grandpa...her Great Grandparents. I asked if she wanted them and I received an emphatic yes! She does not know that she is also getting her Great Grandma's beautuful old discontinued Spode China for 12 that I am splitting between her and my daughter. The biggest surprise she will get is the family heirloom, 1 carat diamond ring. I have asked all the Uncles and they have agreed she should be the next keeper if the ring. It was my Grandfathers, then my Dad got it, then my Mom wore it, and then my brother had it but never wore it and handed it down to me. I have been wearing the ring since my mother passed. We all know that she will be the best guardian and she will chose wisely, the next 'Keeper of the ring".
I have a small table that was my mom’s. She had it our dining room. I was the one that was responsible for dusting the room every Saturday. Now in my home I have many fond memories of my childhood.
My second kitchen drawer is a similar mix of old hand-me-downs and just one or two newer pieces. My old potato masher, the old serving spoon, some kitschy corn holders from the 70s… And Books. I had to get rid of so many when I downsized, but some you just have to hold on to. So many memories in my little villa. The older you get, the more ‘vintage’ items surround you. But why throw away something that’s perfectly good? Thanks for some lovely thoughts. Sending heaps of hugs and best wishes. 🤗🤗💕
Ann - I have my mother's wood rolling pin, and her button box. I haven't baked in awhile, but when I do, she will be on my mind. As for the buttons, I just like knowing they were collected by her... and include all the buttons from my Dad's airline uniforms. Thanks for sharing your ladle memories.
I am commenting on every single article..over share oh well..forgive my enthusiasm lol..My weird attitude towards Heirlooms regardless of value monetarily or even sentimental is I use the best silver daily China yep..everything I use wear Mar destroy at times because it is my belief yhat it deserves to be used for its original purpose to treasure it fully. I could stash it all in my China hutch and look at it occasionally not allowing the gransds to touch it...God forbid..or I could use it..hold it..feel the balance and admire the embellishments and even scars in a appreciative nod of sustainability..Just like aging people who may just linger at their last phases or find purpose and appreciation by being useful and vital to the every day workings of life. I have seen it first hand and it's amazing..but as a side note always remember these folks may not remember their name or to put on clothes..but they are the same intelligent resourceful human being they were before disease and deserve our respect and space to be a participant in their life...(even if we have to wash the laundry again... after we find it!..