Jazzy1
Member
- Location
- Adirondack Region NY
What object in your home has the best story behind it?
Object in your home with the best story behind it
- Thread starter Jazzy1
- Start date
hawkdon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Liberty MO
The floor, it could tell many falling tales !!!!
jujube
SF VIP
That would probably be my armadillo purse. It's a purse made out of an actual taxidermied armadillo. It's rolled up and it's head is on a hinge. The inside is lined in red silk. One of my sisters brought it back from Mexico for me about 45 years ago.
It really came in handy when my daughter was a teenager. I was very liberal with my daughter about what she wore. If she was going to a party, a game, an event and was dressed/made up/wearing whatever the ridiculous fad was at the time, it was OK with me. There were going to be 20 other teen girls dressed as ridiculously and it really wasn't a hill I was prepared to die on.
But if we were going to a wedding, a funeral, a nice restaurant, somebody's house, etc, etc., then I required a certain level of decorum. She'd emerge from her room, wearing God-knows-what, and I'd ask, "Is THAT what you're wearing?" The answer would be an indignant "YES! What's wrong with it???" I'd say, "Well, OK, let me get my armadillo purse and we'll be ready to go."
That would always do the trick. She was HORRIFIED that I'd consider carrying that purse out in public, absolutely horrified. I figured that if I let her wear what she wanted, then I was entitled to the same privilege....right? If she thought it was OK to look like a walking freak circus, I was OK carrying around a dead animal. We'd come to an agreement that satisfied both sides.
I still have that purse and I bring it out on occasion. My granddaughter never thought there was anything wrong with it and the Littles are absolutely delighted with it and beg to have it. I did, at one time, also have a purse made from a giant Bufo toad. It hung from a strap by its front legs and had a zipper in its belly. I gave it away years ago to a young relative who was absolutely besotted by it. I can only hope she carried on the family tradition of embarrassing your children.....
It really came in handy when my daughter was a teenager. I was very liberal with my daughter about what she wore. If she was going to a party, a game, an event and was dressed/made up/wearing whatever the ridiculous fad was at the time, it was OK with me. There were going to be 20 other teen girls dressed as ridiculously and it really wasn't a hill I was prepared to die on.
But if we were going to a wedding, a funeral, a nice restaurant, somebody's house, etc, etc., then I required a certain level of decorum. She'd emerge from her room, wearing God-knows-what, and I'd ask, "Is THAT what you're wearing?" The answer would be an indignant "YES! What's wrong with it???" I'd say, "Well, OK, let me get my armadillo purse and we'll be ready to go."
That would always do the trick. She was HORRIFIED that I'd consider carrying that purse out in public, absolutely horrified. I figured that if I let her wear what she wanted, then I was entitled to the same privilege....right? If she thought it was OK to look like a walking freak circus, I was OK carrying around a dead animal. We'd come to an agreement that satisfied both sides.
I still have that purse and I bring it out on occasion. My granddaughter never thought there was anything wrong with it and the Littles are absolutely delighted with it and beg to have it. I did, at one time, also have a purse made from a giant Bufo toad. It hung from a strap by its front legs and had a zipper in its belly. I gave it away years ago to a young relative who was absolutely besotted by it. I can only hope she carried on the family tradition of embarrassing your children.....
Georgiagranny
Well-known Member
At DH's funeral, I was presented with a US flag by the American Legion. One of my brothers is retired navy, and at the time was a high school JROTC instructor. He took his class to visit Parris Island that summer and took the flag along to have it flown over Parris Island in his honor. It's now folded and in a triangular flag frame hanging on my bedroom wall.
I think I may have shared this story before . . . . I have a toy stuffed dolphin that my son won in one of those toy crane machines that my kids used to love to waste money on. We were living in Nevada, and I'd been out of town for the day, and when I pulled in the driveway he was waiting in the yard holding it, so excited. My then-husband told me that he (my son) had even postponed a play date because he'd wanted to show me. I don't think I've ever been so touched.
That was about 20 years ago. I still have it on my nightstand.
That was about 20 years ago. I still have it on my nightstand.
Imogene
Member
- Location
- Middle Tennessee
The bridles for each of my horses that are still hanging on their own hooks in the laundry room. There is a lifelong story with each of those bridles and the horse that wore it.
All of the horses have been laid to rest. I will leave it to my brother to take the bridles down when I’m no longer around.———
All of the horses have been laid to rest. I will leave it to my brother to take the bridles down when I’m no longer around.———
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 83
Bob Hope famously called Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue “the longest bar in the world.”
A beat-up, stained, cigarette-burnt old Baldwin Acrosonic piano with wonderful tone was hauled up and down the avenue as needed over a period of many, many years. It is said that it visited every bar in Anchorage many times over.
Later it belonged to my mother. Now it's mine, a cherished possession.
My husband always threatened that before he moved it one more time, he'd break it up for firewood.
A beat-up, stained, cigarette-burnt old Baldwin Acrosonic piano with wonderful tone was hauled up and down the avenue as needed over a period of many, many years. It is said that it visited every bar in Anchorage many times over.
Later it belonged to my mother. Now it's mine, a cherished possession.
My husband always threatened that before he moved it one more time, he'd break it up for firewood.
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bowmore
Senior Member
While at the Pagent of the Masters in Laguna Beach CA, one of the artworks shown was a glass sculpture from Steuben called "Orpheus". I fell in love with it, and contacted Steuben to see if I could purchase one. I got a response that they were in a private collection, and the last sale was $18K!.
I then went to see if I could get a copy made. While on a trip to England. I visited the Ulverston Glass Works. To get there I had to take a lake steamer, a steam train and a taxi. They said there was no way they could make it. I was disappointed, and decided to give up my quest.
Some time later, I was at a local art show, and noticed an artist doing exactly the type of work I needed. I explained what I wanted, sent him a photo of the piece, and we agreed on a price.
Two months later, I was the proud owner of a copy of Orpheus!!
I then went to see if I could get a copy made. While on a trip to England. I visited the Ulverston Glass Works. To get there I had to take a lake steamer, a steam train and a taxi. They said there was no way they could make it. I was disappointed, and decided to give up my quest.
Some time later, I was at a local art show, and noticed an artist doing exactly the type of work I needed. I explained what I wanted, sent him a photo of the piece, and we agreed on a price.
Two months later, I was the proud owner of a copy of Orpheus!!
debodun
SF VIP
- Location
- way upstate in New York, USA
This white metal statue of Nike.
Decades ago, my mom worked for a local newspaper. This was many years before home computers, cell phones and digital cameras. She had taken some photos to a photo shop to be developed so she could submit them with her stories. This wasn't a chain photo developer - it was a local business. While she was in the studio, she saw this figure. She came home and told my dad about it. The next Christmas morning, there it was under the tree. My dad never told anyone what he had to pay the owner for it.
A few years ago, I sent a photo of it to an auctioneer in Massachusetts for an appraisal. He replied that if he had it at his auction, he'd start the bidding at $2000 and wouldn't be surprised where the bidding ended.
When I had tag sales at the old house, a few people saw it and asked to buy it, but the most I was ever offered was $100. After what the auctioneer said and its sentimental value to me. there was no sale.
It's likely zinc (non magnetic) and mounted on a base made of two different colored marble sections and fairly large (dimension in photo).
Decades ago, my mom worked for a local newspaper. This was many years before home computers, cell phones and digital cameras. She had taken some photos to a photo shop to be developed so she could submit them with her stories. This wasn't a chain photo developer - it was a local business. While she was in the studio, she saw this figure. She came home and told my dad about it. The next Christmas morning, there it was under the tree. My dad never told anyone what he had to pay the owner for it.
A few years ago, I sent a photo of it to an auctioneer in Massachusetts for an appraisal. He replied that if he had it at his auction, he'd start the bidding at $2000 and wouldn't be surprised where the bidding ended.
When I had tag sales at the old house, a few people saw it and asked to buy it, but the most I was ever offered was $100. After what the auctioneer said and its sentimental value to me. there was no sale.
It's likely zinc (non magnetic) and mounted on a base made of two different colored marble sections and fairly large (dimension in photo).
Tom52
Member
- Location
- The Villages, Florida
Probably the item with the most interesting story behind it is my Dad's souvenir WW2 Walter P38 German pistol. My Dad was never one to talk about his service unless it was one of the more humorous stories. I am sure he had plenty he could have told being a combat infantryman awarded 2 Bronze Stars and being wounded in combat and given a Purple Heart for it. But this souvenir Walther P38 pistol was one of the funny stories he did tell me.
As a bit of background my Dad, while in the army, was not adverse to a bit of mischief along with a few of his buddies. He related to me that toward the end of the war they had advanced into Germany as far as the Elbe River near Berlin and were ordered to stop there. Right on the other side of the river a very large number of German soldiers trapped by the fast advancing Russian army.
The Germans were anxious to surrender, and were trying to negotiate with the U.S. troops because they knew they would be better treated then being captured by the Russians. Anyway, the U.S. soldiers were told not to cross the Elbe for any reason. Well, my Dad and one of his buddies found a stashed row boat and gathered up a bunch of cigarettes and decided to row across the river at night to do some trading.
Of particular value was the infamous Luger pistol. They hoped to snag some in trade for cigarettes, then be able to sell them to fellow soldiers. As it turned out Dad and his buddy did real well trading with the German soldiers. I don't know what all Dad's buddy came away with but my Dad had 14 Luger pistols and 1 Walter P38 pistol with the full shoulder harness and holster stuffed in his coat. He didn't really want the P38 pistol so much but the German he got it from spoke some English and helped him make the trades. Dad said this German was a tank commander, and that is the sidearm they carried. The officers were usually the ones who carried the Lugers.
When my Dad and his buddy rowed back across to the U.S. side of the Elbe they were surprised to see their lieutenant waiting for them. Dad and his buddy thought their goose was cooked. After a good a** chewing the only punishment they got was the lieutenant confiscated all of the Luger pistols but left him with the Walter P38. Dad later found out the lieutenant passed out the Lugers to his fellow officer buddies.
Anyway, Dad brought home the Walter P38 pistol along with a lot of other souvenirs. Now, I have them and will pass them to Dad's oldest grandson when I am gone. He already knows the story of how his Grand Dad got it.
As a bit of background my Dad, while in the army, was not adverse to a bit of mischief along with a few of his buddies. He related to me that toward the end of the war they had advanced into Germany as far as the Elbe River near Berlin and were ordered to stop there. Right on the other side of the river a very large number of German soldiers trapped by the fast advancing Russian army.
The Germans were anxious to surrender, and were trying to negotiate with the U.S. troops because they knew they would be better treated then being captured by the Russians. Anyway, the U.S. soldiers were told not to cross the Elbe for any reason. Well, my Dad and one of his buddies found a stashed row boat and gathered up a bunch of cigarettes and decided to row across the river at night to do some trading.
Of particular value was the infamous Luger pistol. They hoped to snag some in trade for cigarettes, then be able to sell them to fellow soldiers. As it turned out Dad and his buddy did real well trading with the German soldiers. I don't know what all Dad's buddy came away with but my Dad had 14 Luger pistols and 1 Walter P38 pistol with the full shoulder harness and holster stuffed in his coat. He didn't really want the P38 pistol so much but the German he got it from spoke some English and helped him make the trades. Dad said this German was a tank commander, and that is the sidearm they carried. The officers were usually the ones who carried the Lugers.
When my Dad and his buddy rowed back across to the U.S. side of the Elbe they were surprised to see their lieutenant waiting for them. Dad and his buddy thought their goose was cooked. After a good a** chewing the only punishment they got was the lieutenant confiscated all of the Luger pistols but left him with the Walter P38. Dad later found out the lieutenant passed out the Lugers to his fellow officer buddies.
Anyway, Dad brought home the Walter P38 pistol along with a lot of other souvenirs. Now, I have them and will pass them to Dad's oldest grandson when I am gone. He already knows the story of how his Grand Dad got it.