Creating an Heirloom

Heirlooms. They’re rare, they’re beautiful, and they’re usually handcrafted, and hold a lot of value and stories. Heirlooms really are a wonderful thing that can help tell the story of generations. Usually, they are passed down from parents to their children and those children pass them along to their children and so on and so forth.

Heirlooms in the form of furniture can hold an even more valuable meaning because it once housed things that were important to the family. Any number of things could have been kept in that furniture and just knowing of the possibilities makes it even more exciting.

There are some steps you can take before you pass on an heirloom.

Make a Record

First of all, you want to record the history of the piece. Record the date it was made, the name of the person who made it, and the town or city it was created in. These are important details as they help tell the story of the origins of the heirloom and even the time period of the piece.

Knowing when and where the piece was made can help each generation get an understanding of what was going on during that time in history. It can help them understand what influences there might have been when the artist crafted the heirloom.

You should also record details of the person who made this piece if it is possible. Record as much about them as you can, including other people they might have worked for and other things they might have built. Every detail counts when telling the story later on.

Record who the piece was made for and, if you can, record exactly what it was used for. All of these details, along with telling of the piece’s importance, will add to the value of the furniture you plan to pass down.

Take pictures. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then they can help tell the story.

Protect Your Heirloom

It is vitally important to take care of the heirloom you plan to pass down. As things go from person to person, one environment to the next, wear and tear can be inevitable. Protecting your family heirloom before you pass it down can drastically slow or even prevent any damage from occurring.

To keep things as damage free as possible, you should first protect any documentation there may be on your heirloom. This documentation can come in the form of pictures or any records of the piece. Anything in writing should be in sealed bags and not exposed to air and this can affect the ink on the page and make it hard to see years down the line. Next, you want to find out the best way to protect the piece itself.

Keep your heirlooms away from moisture and sunlight. These two elements can seriously damage just about any heirloom if they are left exposed. Find neutral ground for your piece. Ideally, you need to keep it in a place that is not too hot or too cold, and not to wet or too dry.

If possible, ask the artist who crafted it for any additional suggestions on maintaining its beauty and value. This will ensure that it is passed down as valuable as it was in its creation. It will also increase the value of the piece as time goes by.

Bringing the Family Together

Heirlooms have a very special way of bringing families together. They can link generations of members who might, otherwise, not have much to connect on, especially if they are from different times and places. Heirlooms emphasize the importance of family and of cherishing memories and time spent together.

The passing down of heirlooms is a tradition in which people can learn about their own history. Younger generations can learn of where their older family members came from and the struggles they might have gone through in their own lives. Through traditions, people find ways to relate to each other.

Heirlooms are an anchoring force as they give families something to hold onto. They are a tangible thing that represent family values, tradition, and love.

Passing on an heirloom can be done in a number of ways. It can be passed on from one family member to the next, from one generation to the next, or even after death. Whatever the case, there is so much value in items that have been passed on from one generation to the next. Heirlooms are such a unifying thing and with each holder of the family heirloom, the story of the family will grow into something they will cherish for many, many years to come.