bequeathed odd family items?

strength

i was up at my parent's last night and they gave me several items that belonged to my great, great grandparents. the items are from around the 1850s.

i'm appreciative of the history of the items but have no clue what to do with them because they are completely NOT my taste. i received a christening bowl, a match holder, a cigar box and a cast iron iron.

have you been given family heirlooms that you don't necessarily want? what were they and what did you do with them?

 

MinnaB

I have a few things from my grandma that aren't my style.  I've displayed a couple pieces, but I have them in storage.  I figure that my tastes could change as I get older, and it is nice to have some heirlooms.  Even if you don't display the items, your kids or nieces/nephews may have a different decorating style and like the heirlooms when they're older.

razamataz

Cast-iron iron: Doorstop or bookend

Cigar box: Hold post-cards/letters or playing cards/dice/poker chips

match holder: Toothpick holder or other similar barware type things

Christening bowl: hmmmm, no clue

Old stuff can be great - if you have a use for it or want to display it. Otherwise it is something a PITA. Reminds me of this weekend when DH and I drove by an antique store that had all sorts of stuff scattered on the lawn - I commented to him that it might be antique, but it really just looks like junk someone was too lazy to throw out!

 

Janell's Nest

I am so horrible...when they cleaned out my grandma's house (she's in a nursing home now) everyone got a box or two of stuff they had in the house...whether they wanted it or not.  My grandma gave me her wedding china set and silverware (which I kept), and other things I just threw out...like the mint green bowl that looked like something I can't even explain...

MrsKizdoodle

We have my grandparent's dining room table, chairs, and hutch.  It's the set that my dad remembers eating at when he was a little boy so it's very special but it's toooooooootally not our style.  It's really good stuff but it's very "grandma" style.  We would get rid of it but my aunt is adamant it "stays in the family" which I can totally appreciate but when the time comes where we have the dollars for a new set we'll want to ditch it.  Maybe she can come pick it up since she's so insistent it stays with a family member!  I'd hate for it to go to any random stranger though so I'm torn. 

eta:  You can see the hutch to the left behind Renzo.  It's very old fashioned in a color that matches nothing else in our house.

 

luckycooky

I just store them until I have a use for them in the future.  Like PP said, tastes change over the years and you may some day see a place where they fit in perfectly. 

mbgreenwalt

I have an old wicker desk and chair that was my great-great grandmas.  My dad said my grandma left it to me.  He had it for about 10 years and gave it to me when I was 15.  I just think he didn't want it anymore, but couldn't throw it away.  It currently lives in my garage.

huwehotaling

After my grandfather died (about 12 years ago) my grandma sold their house and moved into assisted living.  I was only 15 at the time, so I didn't take much since I wasn't on my own or married.  My grandma recently passed away and we were going through the rest of her things while my family was together for her memorial.  I took a figurine of a paperboy that was in my great-great grandparents home, probably in the late 1800s.  I'd like to do some research to find out more about its history, etc.  I am disappointed that I didn't get more of the family heirlooms though because most of my older cousins got them.