The thread about a grandmother's tea set has made me curious about family heirlooms and their desirability and status within the family and how that might change over time. It seems to me that the older the item, the stronger the binding ties to it even if it doesn't match one's own personal taste. Do you agree?
The oldest heirloom in my family is a mantel clock presently in my possession. I happen to love it, but I'm not sure what its fate might have been if I hadn't wanted it. The clock goes back four generations to my great-grandparents. They purchased it for $5 brand-new the first year they were married, in 1877. They were farmers in Kansas and no doubt chose this clock because of its intense alarm, which is so loud it would put any rooster to shame. It's American-made, by the New Haven Clock Co. in Connecticut.
The clock passed from my great-grandparents to their eldest daughter, then to her favorite niece (my mother), and then to me. It has followed a path of inheritance to the people who would love it most - all of us have collected American antiques. I tentatively plan for it to pass to one of my cousins' children, whoever shows the most interest, but that isn't clear as of yet. I do hope that, because of its history, the clock will always stay in the family. In family photos, the clock appears on the mantels of the different family homes over the years, and it still runs and keeps excellent time with a satisfying tick-tock. (I do NOT use the alarm!)
How far back do some of your heirlooms go? And what are your plans when it's time to pass them on to a new home?
