I’m lucky enough to be the custodian of a mahogany breakfront sideboard that was a wedding present to my Great Grandparents James Henry & Elizabeth Maud Ferris in 1898. I remember as a child cleaning the “silver” with my Grandfather and putting it back on this sideboard when it was clean. My parents inherited when he passed away. It then travelled half way round the world to Australia and now proudly sits in my lounge room in pride of place.
Top 9 Family Heirlooms
Family heirlooms are artifacts that provide comfort and a sense of connection to our heritage. They illustrate our family histories and provide memories of our loved ones.
Passed down from generation to generation, often with a background story, they help preserve our heritage for future generations. We recently wrote about bizarre places to find family heirlooms.
I grew up in a home where many pieces of furniture once belonged to my great-grandmother. I thought that it was strange to have such antique furniture in our modern home but, as I grew older, I came to appreciate their value and the importance of safeguarding pieces that once belonged to the matriarch of our large family. Little did I know that my family was not unique and that furniture is commonly passed down in families and cherished for generations.
Here are nine of the top family heirlooms:
1. Musical instruments: Not only expensive grand pianos, but also small musical instruments are often saved as keepsakes.
2. Engagement rings and jewelry: It’s sentimental to cherish a symbol of love passed down through the generations.
3. Recipes: Family food traditions and the stories behind them evoke family memories (See our collection of family recipes).
4. Timepieces: Clocks and watches are valuable, but also a testament to mechanical ingenuity of times gone by.
5. Photos: Family photos create lasting memories and transport us to a different era.
6. Furniture: Many antique furniture pieces come with dents, and scratches along with memories. Their traditional designs, and lasting quality are an added bonus.
7. Military relics: Most of us claim at least one relative or ancestor who served in the military.
8. Quilts: Family heirloom quilts add color to family history. They often get softer and more beautiful with time if preserved well.
9. Written memories: Letters and diaries provide insight into our ancestors’ lives, through penmanship and personal content.
Do you have family heirlooms from this list? What do they mean to you?
John M. Wood
September 21, 2015
What a nice essay. It reminds me of how lucky I am to have heirlooms from each of your 9 categories close to me.
It is very comforting to know their value to the family and to know who and where they came from. I believe it is now my job to make sure that “value” and “knowledge” be passed on to the next generation.
Thanks.