You know that sound you just heard? That’s the same sound I heard when I first laid eyes on this week’s Freebie Friday. My jaw hitting the ground. (I’m trying not to drool on my keyboard as I craft this post.)
Some of us are blessed to inherit a family heirloom passed down through generations. Others of us may have the opportunity to gift a loved one a newly made unique piece of handcrafted or couture-quality furniture that is an instant heirloom. Modern History furniture offers exquisitely designed modern antiques that are works of art and are guaranteed to become treasured additions to any family’s decor.
This week, one lucky winner will receive Modern History’s Decorated Venetian Chest. For a chance to win this stunning piece, answer this week’s question before 12/11c, Monday, September 19.
This week’s question: Forget what the dictionary says, how do you define an heirloom piece of furniture or decor? What are its essential qualities?
An heirloom, to me, is not just furniture. It can be a wedding dress, or even something as small as a doily. The piece has been handed down thru the generations, lovingly cared for, and treasured by each recipient. You won't see much plastic in the heirloom line…I think it is something that can perish, but somehow survives through care and love.
We don't have a lot of "heirlooms" in my family. To me, an heirloom comes with stories and memories. My mother-in-law puts sentimentality on things in the name of 'heirloom'. "When I bought this dresser last year, I envisioned that you could turn it into a changing table and thought that's where all my grandchildren would have their diapers changed…"
…not an heirloom.
I like the phrases used previously: "prized possession", "something that stands out", or "cherished". I don't think that necessarily longevity automatically creates an heirloom. But I do think that the most important thing about an heirloom is that it's *received*. I'd love to hand some of my stuff down to my kids, but only if they want it.
shh…. don't tell my MIL that i'm "carol".
BTW, this chest is going to be the heirloom my kids fight over someday. "I want the piece that mom won!"
I would define an heirloom piece as something that is much loved &gives one an instant access to a memory or feeling, it need not be old, nor, dare I say it, beautiful to others. An heirloom piece is anything that fills a certain beholder with the full spectrum of memory, it takes you back to either one particular moment in time, or to a kaleidoscope of them. An heirloom can be a Grandmother's bed, an Aunt's brooch or even a Christmas ornament brought back from a memorable trip. It need not be old, valuable or beautiful, just special to two people, you and me.
An heirloom piece is something that has been passed on with love, generates wonderful memories for the one it has been passed to, and is treasured to be passed on to another loved one. This piece may not have been passed on to me but it brings up lovely memories of our trip to Venice and would be held in safekeeping to pass on to my daughter.
Heirloom would be defined as something that is past down from one generation to another, but also to me it is also a piece of furniture or something that is cherished. By a person or people something that tells a story or just tell people of the history or love that is in that home. To me all my past down heirlooms and my acquired ones are all pieces of love to be loved by my children and my Childrens children way past when I am gone.
What defines an heirloom? An heirloom is just that…passed down generations, loved by those family members……treated with the respect of those who passed it down…polished, dusted and presented proudly in your home….I have several heirloom pieces in my home and I continue to protect them for their future heirs in my family…..thank you for displaying this beautiful piece of art…..Jeanne Attayi
To me, an heirloom is anything that has been passed down from my parents, grandparents or older generations that will then be passed down to my children. It's usually been lovingly cared for and of course has a story behind it.
An heirloom piece is something that evokes the feeling of love when you look at it; I have many of those pieces in my home. Unfortunately, it also probably means the loved one is no longer here. Therefore, the piece is like getting a smile or a hug from family who are gone. I cherish all of my heirloom pieces and don't take them for granted, but enjoy them every day & the memories of my loved ones. The pieces don't have to be sleek or polished or even without flaws. The fact that they were used lovingly shows in the patina. They are my treasured possessions, not the ones that I have purchased but those that I've been blessed to have the honor to care for until they can be passed to my children & grandchildren. They are to be treated with respect but they are to be USED, not put away. For instance, when I put my clothing in my chest of drawers, I remember my mother's hands doing the same in the same drawers, and when I wear a piece of her jewelry, I feel her love wrapped around me. I have a coat of my grandmother's that I cannot wear but I keep it with my own coats, and look at it often. My grandfather made a chest of pine, a lamp of a beautiful piece of driftwood, and a child's rocking chair. When I look at these items, I don't see the furniture, I see my grandfather lovingly shaping the wood. I am truly blessed to have these memories so close.
An heirloom is something dearly loved as it is , not to be changed but to love & admire as is. Usually something unique that will bring a smile to anyone's face this year & 50 to 100 years from now !
The picture of the Heirloom Venetian Chest brings a smile to my face . <3
A family furniture heirloom is something that is not only passed down to someone in the next generation but with it carries the memories and the honor of the family of those who owned it previously. The one who receives it might not know the story behind it and might not have memories with it but the story is told by family members and as that heirloom stays with the new family, new memories are built. It is a piece of furniture that is not allowed to leave the family and the one who receives the gift of the heirloom feels honored to have been chosen. At least that is how i would feel receiving an heirloom from my grandma for example. Especially when I have a big family. To me personally a heirloom is something very special and very sentimental. It is a piece of furniture you get attached to and is hard to let go. Especially if it is a beautiful piece. I love antiques so that is just incredible to have this as an heirloom and i would have a great story to tell my kids of how i won this beautiful chest!
I agree with the posters above who stated it is more than just an object or material possession. An heirloom is truly something which has a deep emotional attachment as well as a memory or story to go along with it. They are truly irreplaceable items, and no amount of money is going to be able to duplicate it. Possibly unique to a family heirloom is the value of the item monetarily does not necessarily match the value in importance to the one who possesses the heirloom, therefore making it impossible to accurately appraise the item's worth. So if I am correct, I assume that the treasured family heirloom may not be as valuable to anyone not directly associated with it.
When I look at an heirloom piece of furniture or decor, it means it has a family history behind it so its sentimental and irreplaceable. It really is not the cost of the furniture or decor that makes it valuable, but its the thought that this piece of furniture or decor lived in the homes of your loved ones. That makes an heirloom priceless.
An heirloom piece of furniture to me means something that has been passed down for years within the family
Simply enough~ An heirloom is a piece of a spirit that chases out all the bad in everything else. It is something you can touch, and see that it reminds you… ‘You are not alone’ and then you can smile, feel blessings from your family and continue on. It is almost a complexity that can not be defined. A tangible item, with such intangible properties.
An heirloom is something treasured passed from one person to another. An heirloom that was passed onto me by my Grandfather was an embellished turquoise elephant that a Korean man gave to him when he was in the Air Force fighting in the Korean War. I will cherish it always.
Really beautiful piece. Believe Heirloom piece is not necessarily the most expensive piece of furniture in the family but one that has earned its admiration in the way it was used, honored and became a part of the family. Could be an antique set of china, an old clock upon the wall, a high chair passed down or as simple as a china owl. It's all about the feelings and memories humans have come to attach to that piece.
To me and heirloom is something that has been passed down from at least one dead relative to a relative at least one generation older than me. Also, it must remain in the family. Something from my grandmother (who was dead before I was born) to my mother would be an heirloom. Something passed from my mother to me is not an heirloom to me. Something passed from my currently living grandmother to my father is not an heirloom, unless it had been passed to her from her father (who was dead before I was born. I don't know why I feel this way, but I just can't see something that came from somebody I've known, or could have known, to be an heirloom.
Any object can become an heirloom. Certain criteria have to be met, but they are rather subjective. A piece that has been tenderly cared for, with plenty of aesthetic value but little monetary can be one. A cherished gift can as well. This is not to preclude rather expensive objects, but these are usually purchased because the buyer feels something when they find the item!! Items that have been passed down through generations become heirlooms as the years go by………Any object that starts with a 'special something' can become an heirloom.
The original maker of a piece would not consider that it would become a treasure for the owners in the future to call an Heirloom Piece. All things mean something to someone, a picture, a document, a lock of hair. When we talk about an Heirloom Piece we decide that it has the qualities that memories will be made from it. A thing that generations will consider contemporary to a time, place or era. I have pieces of furniture that came from my home and belonged to my parents or grandparents. I consider these to be heirlooms for my grandchildren and hope that they will consider them to be regarded as heirlooms to pass on to their grandchildren. This is a contemporary heirloom of real quality.
To me an heirloom is an item that gives you great memories.. Sure most likely has been in the family for a long time,or be an thing you always remember being in your grandmas house. Also to me and my favorite way to find an heirloom is it can also be something that you could buy with your daughter or husband etc. one day while you are spending the day together just walking around through antique shops and you both spot something that you just can not leave the store without buying it! And then 30 plus years later you still have that wonderful item and everytime you look at it that special day comes back to you and you smile!
An heirloom, I believe is a possession that yes can hold value but better yet I believe an heirloom is something that sentimental value. We have a beautiful upright piano that has been passed down s since the early 1v00. I an the 4th generation to learn on it and I hope my fourteen get the same chance. Heirlooms don't have to have monetary value to be passed down and have sentimental value.
A heriloom is something that has been passed down through the family and is treassured by everyone in the family. I have two dressers that were my grandparents. These are my heirloom possessions. My bedroom was built around one and my guest room was built around the other one. I would rather keep these two dressers than have a matching brand new bedroom set.
What a beautiful piece of furniture! I would define an heirloom as something passed down in a family that can be talked about by different generations. I have a chair that was my great gradfathers, I can remember sitting in it at my grandmothers house and playing cards with my grandparents. What great memories.
A treasure when looked at evokes a memory from another time and place…And makes you smile, I'm proud to know my children will one day have something of mine, and that little connection to me, makes me live on.
Thats what an Heirloom is to me!
An Heirloom is passed on, treasured, admired and loved.
An heirloom piece to me is anything that has been handed down to me. It's not always furniture. I have my grandmothers cake top. To me that is so precious. I love to incorporate these pieces in my decorating to make it "my own".
My idea of an heirloom is something that isn't just old, it has to evoke a warm feeling from family or friends that owned it before. My heirlooms are pieces that bring back memories of my childhood and although they would sell for less than $1,000 — I wouldn't give them up for any amount of money. This chest would look incredible in my living room by the front door.
I would define an heirloom as something that you want to be passed down from generation to generation, they have to start somewhere..I have a beautiful sleigh bed and a beautiful pedestal dining room table both about 100 years old. They had no family to become an heirloom or appreciate them until they came to me. I will pass these two pieces down to my children and they have been asked to do the same.
A heirloom is usually something passed down from generation to generation within a family. It could be anything from a pillow to portraits and jewelry. The longer it is passed down the higher in value it becomes. It is usually treasured and treated with care, preserving its' original characteristics. In my family I don't know of any heirlooms, yet anyway.
I would define an heirloom as being a treasured object that holds the values, memories, love, togetherness and importance of a family in it. Just by looking at this possession feelings flood a person as a famaily's history is remembered.
To me, an heirloom piece of furniture is one that you love and consider beautiful. It's age is not important, because a new piece can become an heirloom.
It's the piece that captures your spirit when you enter a room. It's the piece that already has a story to tell whether it needs some love or has had much love since it was lovingly created. It's the piece that already has a home in your home and has been waiting for you to find it.
Absolutely gorgeous!! I need this for the rotunda in the Victorian style home we're going to be building sometime in the near future. It will look wonderful there!!
To answer the question, to me an heirloom is something passed down from an ancestor and has sentimental value. It's something everyone knows to never sell, regardless of how much someone offers to take it off your hands. It may have a special detail, like a pretty door knob, that makes it stand out. It would have excellent workmanship to withstand the test of time.
Something my family will remember me and smile at.
Heirlooms may or may not have any real value as an antique…. they are items passed down to someone and meant to be treasured by the owners. it can be furniture, jewelry, or a picture, etc. I can only hope that my children treasure some things that i will pass to them as family heirlooms as much as i've treasured them throughout my lifetime. thanks! p.s…… i would certainly treasure this chest
An heirloom is anything passed from generation to generation with love. We have many and I cherish each one and know the history.
An heirloom is something priceless. Something that has been in the family and most often means more personally than financially. Its a piece of remembrance of the loved ones that have come and gone and left something material for us to remember the family by. It something that usually isn't sold and given to a child, niece or nephew to be kept for generations to come. This heirloom is one that I would Love to give a home to and pass it on down the family. : )
A family piece. A piece where you know the history. A piece where each generation writes a note about the piece, and keeps it in the drawer and tells where it came from and who has owned it over the years. Notes you treasure like the piece. A true treasure to you.
An heirloom must evoke emotion. My father had a Larkin desk which was stolen from our home several years ago. I found one like it at an antique store and bought it. It's not the same desk but each time I look at it I feel the same emotions that I did when I looked at the one he owned.
An 'heirloom' is something with a distinct quality & personal value that demands it's preservation for future generations – that doesn't mean it has to have cost a fortune to purchase, or have a 'designer' name attached to it…. the importance should come from what it means in your life and why you want the people you love to have it after you're gone…..
Heirlooms are living legacies to their past owners and the best legacies are kept alive by using the heirloom — like the rolling pin described above, or wearing the cameo, hanging the painting, etc.
Something passed down in a family from generation to generation. Something engrained with family memories and lots of love! For me, a family heirloom need not necessarily"fit in" with your current decor in your home. It's a stand out piece because it comes from family.
To me, an heirloom piece of furniture or decor evokes thoughts of another time and place. The instant connection to another time and place is an automatic response. Memories of your childhood or memories of past generations flow back to you just by looking at the item. Heirloom pieces have a history that follow future generations and create a sense of belonging for them. These items make a house feel like a home!
Whether it's a framed photo of one's cherished grandmother or a chest bought from a store that stirs up memories of summers spent with a favorite great aunt on her farm, an heirloom is any piece that invokes a feeling of connecting with one's past.
An heirloom piece of furniture is all about love. I have several of my husbands great Aunts piece that are very old. They might not be functional but the love in them is truly real.
I also have the old radio case that was my grandparents in my entrance hall as a table. I love the detail and the workmanship of it
Lots of wonderful memories
An heirloom would be something of such finesse that it would be desireable to pass down each generation
I think an heirloom piece is something that speaks to your heart. Maybe it has been passed down thru your family and makes you think of someone or a time from the past. I have a library table that was passed down from my great-grandmother's great-grandmother. I always remember my great-grandma and the wonderful times I had with her each time I polish or dust it. It is in my will to be passed to my daughter. Or maybe it a piece that is timeless in it's design and feel, such as this piece, that you know will become a treasured part of the family to be passed to future generations and become a family heirloom that will bring the same feelings of good times and family history..
I think an heirloom is prized and passed down to the next generation. It can be earrings, furniture, anything that brings memories,
Heirloom to me is something given or passed down to you the has some memory or meaning. A gift from the heart to treasure always!
As I believe most here have said, I define an heirloom as something of great sentimental value. Something that has been a part of your family for years and that stirs up memories and emotions from the past. When you look at the item, whether it be a piece of art, furniture, jewlery, dishers, etc., it "connects" you to family.