Heirlooms: connections with the past
FAMILY heirlooms are precious mementos that trigger a memory, and feelings of happiness, sadness and longing.
There’s no denying that there is something romantic, and even magical, about inheriting a piece of tangible history. We pass on what we hold dear, and keep what gives us comfort. For these very reasons, objects which have been handed down from generation to generation have more meaning for us than their weight in gold.
What’s your most treasured item? Is it something you inherited? We asked the question on social media and these are just a few of the responses we got…
Something old
Bee Stewart’s “something old” on her wedding day was a tea cup and saucer set her mother had given her for her special day.
“I had no idea about the tradition until she gave it to me, so it was a lovely surprise,” says the Australian patisserie who now resides in the south of France.
“We have a lot of things from previous generations. I like the connection with the past and the stories that go with them, especially a place like Australia where people come from all over the world”
Childhood memories
When her mother passed away, Avril Hermanus inherited some of her furniture. The solid oak pieces now have pride of place in her home.
“I got her dressing table, wardrobe and sideboard,” notes the school nurse.
Even though the antique furniture might be worth lots today, she will never consider selling any of them: “They were part of my childhood. I can remember hiding my money in the dressing table drawer, and then it was stolen. To this day, I still don’t know who the culprit was.”
‘I still hold onto it’
“My grandma died when I was in grade 11. I was the youngest of her 28 grandchildren at the time,” says online editor Kim Kay.
“When I was a baby I’d sit on her lap and play with her wedding ring. As I grew older, I would always remind her that when she died I wanted her wedding ring. She would just laugh and say ‘Ja my kind’ (Yes, my child).”
Kay eventually inherited her gran’s wedding ring when her aunt gifted it to her the evening of her passing. And she’s worn it ever since, until 2 years ago: “It had to be cut off my finger because it became too small, but I’m planning to add it to a chain for my daughter.”
‘We’ll always have Naples’
Tom Holford speaks of a 75-year-old necklace his Italian granny, 95, has, who only recently mentioned its origin to close family members - a present from her first and true love.
“It has an amazing story behind it. I can’t believe she kept it to herself for so long,” muses Holford.
“I know my gran’s dad was very strict while she was growing up in Naples. At the time, she was seeing this guy called Peter. Long story short, her sister told their father about him and they had to end it very quickly.
Holford’s gran, Tonella, didn’t see Peter again after that. He went off to fight in the war (WW2) and was killed.
Holford then described how after telling him the story, she leaves the room, and a short while later comes back with the necklace.
“She had it for over 75 years and even named her first-born after him.”
Taking a gamble
Sarene Kloren inherited her grandmother’s 1.5 carat diamond ring from her late mother, making her the third generation woman to wear it in her family. And like all inherited jewellery, it has quite a story behind it…
“My grandmother owned the Majestic Mansions Tea Lounge in Muizenberg when it was a real English-style tea room, serving high tea with cakes and homemade breads from silver teapots and porcelain crockery.
“Her second husband was a Greek man, who was an avid gambler and he would play card games in a private room with his friends at the back of the tea lounge.
“That diamond was won across the gambling table and that is how it came to belong to my grandmother.
“However he also lost a large property that was adjacent to the Rondebosch train station at that same gambling table.”