If you had a family heirloom that was worth money, would you keep it, or sell it?

Family heirlooms only matter if someone in the family values the connection.

I’ve never had any extremely valuable family heirlooms but I’ve sold some, given some, and kept a few that have special meaning to me.

When I die my things will lose any special qualities that they’ve had for me and suddenly become old stuff.
 

My family heirloom is connected to a brand of fresh potatoes that my father built, which I took care of to the best of my ability for decades. As I completely lost interest in working after my father's death I determined the best way to see the brand endure for another 60 years was to sell the business to a carefully selected person that had the same passion for the brand so that's what I did. It did cost me some significant $$$ because I wouldn't sell to the highest bidder.
 
I do not have any family heirlooms that have been passed down for 200 years, but if I did, I think that i would continue to pass it down, assuming that one of my kids wanted the item and was willing to keep it and pass it on down in his/her time.
I do have some Franciscan Desert Rose that belonged to my mother, and that will go to my children that want it. Some of the other furniture that my folks had for many years, I have already given to one or another of my children.
If I did have an heirloom that was really valuable, and there was a family crisis and no other way to get the money necessary, then we would have a family meeting and decide whether to sell the item or not.
 
Sell. Sell Sell. I took some jewelry of my mother's to an estate sale place here in town. They are not doing any buying until after the new year. A couple things they were interested in they said, so I will return. However what they don't take, I'll take in for scrap gold someplace else.
 
My wife has a couple old violins that are 100s of years old that she got from her mother. Don't know if they're worth much, they are in poor condition. Every 5 years or so DW says "we ought to have them appraised...", and then forgets about them for another 5 years. next time the topic comes up, I'm going to suggest that she just give the violins to her daughter and/or son now....soon! :rolleyes:
 
Yes and I will be keeping them.

I feel like I am more the present caretaker rather than the owner of these items and, when the time comes, they will be going to the next generation who I know will enjoy them and pass them on. It may be that one day, they will be passed to someone who will choose to sell them but, that is for them to decide.

Actually, if they end up with a family member who desperately needs the funds and it helps them through difficult times then, I hope they will not feel any guilt. In a way, that would be a nice gift from past generations.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
If you had an item that was passed down through the family for the last 200 years, but was worth $100,000; would you keep it to continue the tradition of passing it on, or would you sell it?
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Hmmm. I would have kept it until you said "$100,000." Now I'm thinking about it, but I think I know the answer.

Pass it on? So the next guy would sell it? I guess it depends on how much I liked it, so I guess I don't know the answer.
 
JustDave said:
Hmmm. I would have kept it until you said "$100,000." Now I'm thinking about it, but I think I know the answer.

Pass it on? So the next guy would sell it? I guess it depends on how much I liked it, so I guess I don't know the answer.
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That' something that bothers me. My dad's pocket watch means a lot to me, and it will go to my younger brother, who'll cherish it. But will my nephew sell it for a few $100s, as soon as he gets his paws on it?
 
For me a family heirloom has to have a vested connection to have value. A vase handed down thru ten generations may be worth a small fortune but would mean nothing to me, I would sell it in a heartbeat and never think of it again.

But an old clay crock my great great great great great grandma used I would hold on to forever, even if offered a great sum of money.
 
Trish said:
Yes and I will be keeping them.

I feel like I am more the present caretaker rather than the owner of these items and, when the time comes, they will be going to the next generation who I know will enjoy them and pass them on. It may be that one day, they will be passed to someone who will choose to sell them but, that is for them to decide.

Actually, if they end up with a family member who desperately needs the funds and it helps them through difficult times then, I hope they will not feel any guilt. In a way, that would be a nice gift from past generations.
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What a lovely way to think about this. ❤️
 
Oldeagle66 said:
I would keep it. Some things are more precious than gold.
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I was hand downa beautiful carved cameo that was my mother's mothers. She wore it at her wedding, then my mother wore it and then me at my wedding. I was the only girl so when my brother's daughter was planning her wedding a gave it o her to wear and she seemed pleased. She did not wear it but wore some cheap looking pearls. That was 35 yrs ag and I never heard a word from her and do not know where this cameo is.
 

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