Heirlooms
@allknowing (137552)
India
April 8, 2013 9:45pm CST
For me heirlooms are not some expensive jewellery or some such things but items used by generations that are no more. I have a whole lot of those items in my house which could easily be over hundred years old. Most of them belong to my husband's maternal grandmother whose house they all lived in when they were kids. That house is sold.
I have the pickle jar, wooden rice strainer, curd churner,thistles chest of drawers, and many such items that adorn my house. They could easily come under the category of 'antiques'. There are stories on each of these items. I am proud to own them all.
The churner in the picture was used to churn curds to make butter The butter is removed and what is left is known as butter milk which has good health values.
Do you too value such items? Tell us more.
2 people like this
8 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Apr 13
hi allknowing I am typing here on my childhood desk which was given to me one christmas when I was 12 and now I am 86 years old so figure it out thats this is sort of an antique and is well loved by me as its been through catastrophes and its still working
really well for me with my modern monitor and my state of the art land line phone. I would not trade this old desk for all the swanky ones in the stores.. I love my old desk its my friend, 
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137552)
• India
9 Apr 13
I am so glad that they permitted you to bring along your desk. I was touched by reading your post Hatley!
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
9 Apr 13
Hi friend,
I have several crochet et mantelpieces made by my grandmother, over a century ago. I also have some chairs that were brought by my greatgrandmother from Europe. THey are beautiful, but I don`t let anyone sit on them.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
9 Apr 13
Those chairs must be really ancient made of pure wood which one will not see any more. Today's furniture is mostly covered with vinyl or polished to give a real look of teak or some such wood. I have some teak furniture that we bought when we just got married and some made from jack fruit wood which is considered strong but does not come under the 'classy' wood if that is what furniture made from teak, rosewood, etc is classified as.
If you are not sitting on those chairs then I would classify them as antique pieces!
Hope they will be cherished by your generations to come.
Hope they will be cherished by your generations to come.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
12 Apr 13
Very funny!
And if it is not funny, you need to tell me why it is not funny!
And if it is not funny, you need to tell me why it is not funny!1 person likes this
@allknowing (137552)
• India
12 Apr 13
See?You had to explain that to me. Else I would have all kinds of funny images in front of me. You growing a mustache and shaving using that mug! Those mugs that I saw in that link were hilarious. Thanks.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
Hello, Allknowing! I suddenly became teary-eyed upon remembering all the family heirlooms that were lost because my WONDERFUL uncle sold them coz he has no job and has no means of feeding his family. I feel so unhappy everytime I am reminded of what he has done to those hundred of things that my maternal grandmother have kept which are now more than a hundred years old. Good thing my mom was able to get some of them when my grandmother was still alive. My grandmother made a mini museum in her home and placed all of them neatly in the living room.
I have one set jewelry made of pearl set in gold. It was given by my grandmother on my birthday. I think I was 16 years old then and also an ivory pendant encased in gold mesh.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
9 Apr 13
These days ivory is banned and so you are one lucky girl to own an ivory pendant. That will be priceless as years go.
Sorry to hear what your uncle did. There are many like him who attach no value to items that are priceless in terms of sentiments. Once sold they are gone forever.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
9 Apr 13
What I am noticing these days jenny is that more and more families no longer see eye to eye to the extent of permanently breaking relationships. These are biblical predictions - another sign that the world is going to end.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
I just couldn't imagine how he did those things when he was the most loved child among three children.
Now what is left is the ancestral home, although it is already under my mom's name. If worse gets to worst, he and his family will be thrown out from that house. He's done a lot of things that my mom is furious about.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
10 Apr 13
I have 2 old heirlooms here. On is a photos not sure who it is of. But its been in this house since my parents bought this home 33 years ago. I also have an old stove here. Its called a pot belly stove. use in the old days to cook, and to heat. I will keep them forever.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
10 Apr 13
My husband was the executor of his mother's will which meant doing so many things, including selling their ancestral home. There were loads of things in that house and there was a cupboard which had stuff too - mostly letters which were confidential. I tore up all those letters. I too have loads of photographs but luckily I know who they are. You must try and find out who they are in that photograph that you have saved. Do you also know who that stove belongs to. It makes sense if we know the owners.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
10 Apr 13
woow alot of neat stuff there. I have 2 bedrooms left here.. I know one has a radio in it, that was here when I was a kid. I know there are even more old stuff here. Cant wait to see what I find.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
16 Apr 13
that is so cool. i only have one heirloom and that is my earrings. they have been passed on from generation to generation, i think i was the 4th one to own it. yes i value it very much. but i think if i sold it it would really cost a fortune. :)
although id only sell it if i had no other options and i really really needed the money. and id be so sad by the time that comes
@allknowing (137552)
• India
16 Apr 13
That will be the saddest day of your life and that of your family if you ever decide to sell it. Heirlooms are actually price less.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
16 Apr 13
very true. it is priceless. there was this time i misplaced iut and my heart pumped so hard i felt so nervous that i might have lost it and i couldnt stop myself from worrying and almost tearing up within the few minutes it wasnt on me.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
9 Apr 13
i have a lot of stuff that has been passed down to me from my grandparents like dishware, vintage post cards, jewelry, and even some furniture. i absolutely love old stuff like that and love to think of the people who have used them throughout the past years.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
10 Apr 13
Even if our loved ones are no more we get to think of them through those heirlooms that they have left behind. If we use these items on a daily basis atleast I get the feeling they are there watching over me. These items do have a story to tell.
In the good old days when things were passed down they had to really plan and decide who would get what. But nowadays not many show interest in them as most of the present generation leave the shores seeking greener postures and these things have no use for them. Sad.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Apr 13
I know exactly what you mean. I have lots of special things. The bread knife my mother used to use. antique furniture - mahogony - that was handed down from my late husband's grandmother. A few beautiful pieces that I treasure. I also have some brass that my father brought home from India in 1926. I collect antique plate so I have added to the collection over the years but regretfully, had to sell much of my art woek when my husband became sick some years ago to pay for medical bills. But I was glad to have then to sell
@allknowing (137552)
• India
10 Apr 13
Your collection came in handy and that is a good thing. What connections do you have in India cynthiann? I got interested when you say that your father brought you some stuff from India
