There are many ways to inherit collections. Sometimes loved ones pass and leave behind keepsakes or parents downsize during a move. Collections can be highly personal and carry a sentimental value that outweighs any monetary value. There is no proper way to handle inherited collectibles. Each situation will vary, but often the most difficult decision is the most basic one: do you keep it?
Unless you're a minimalist, you probably have a bona fide collection, even if you don't realize it. Throughout our lives, most people consciously or unconsciously collect particular items that they find interesting or beautiful. Some people collect closets full of shoes and scarves, while others prefer traditional figurines or miniatures. Collections are as diverse as the people who collect them. That's why it can be hard to separate the physical things from memories of the collector.
In general, there are three things you can do when you inherit a collection.
• Keep the Collection: This may be an easy decision. You might be lucky enough to inherit a collection that you enjoy and have plenty of space to display the items that blend perfectly into your existing decor. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case, but you might decide to keep the collection for sentimental reasons. When you don't have space to displaying a collection you'll need to get creative. Luckily, you can read about Functional Ways to Display Your Collection on Apartment Therapy. Other times, an old fashioned collection might not fit into your modern loft apartment. Old things can co-exist in modern surroundings, but it helps to section off a collection from the rest of the room. Placing objects on a bookshelf or behind glass will create a visual disconnection from the rest of the room. Also, warm traditional- well-placed -accents can give a unique edge to modern homes. Don't be afraid to mix!
• Sell the Collection: You might inherit a collection to which you have no emotional or aesthetic connection. If the collection is worth a certain amount of money, then it would be prudent to sell as soon as possible after ownership is transferred. Collectible items are often breakable, and do not travel or store well because they require specific environment controls. Value can quickly decrease if the goods are neglected and stuffed in a basements. Getting an independent appraisal of your collection is the first thing you need to do, once you decide to sell. Check out the Apartment Therapy article All You Need To Know About Appraisals . Once you know how much your collectibles are worth in the present market, you can feel confident when you make a deal to sell them to anyone. In addition to the money you will receive in exchange for the collection, you can also rest assured that the collection is now being admired by someone with a better appreciation for the items.
• Give the Collection Away:There are several motivations for giving away collectibles. If you have a sentimental connection to the collectibles, but you can't keep the items in your home, giving them to an organization that represents your moral or ethical values might be the best option. Charities accept donations that can be sold or displayed to raise money for various causes. Donated collections can be enjoyed by many if the collection is displayed by the charity organization. Therefore, the beauty of the collection can be seen by many not just a few. Also, if the collection is sold by the charity, you know the money will used in a philanthropic manner close to your heart or that of the original collector. Not to mention the tax break you can receive!
Lastly, Mr. Rogers' son said, "My dad told us years ago, when you get to the point where it costs a lot of money, when it becomes demanding to keep things, it's OK to let them go."
MORE COLLECTIONS POSTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY
• Beautiful Ways to Display Collections At Home
• Creative Collection Display Solutions
• 10 How-tos for Organizing and Displaying Collections
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We inherited some personalized Christmas decorations. Every year we put up a few of them and leave the rest in the box. They're not of any monetary value so we can't sell them, but there are family members who have some sentimental attachment to them so even though they're not being put up during Christmas, at least they weren't thrown out.
I inherited a collection of salt and pepper shakers from my grandmother when she passed years ago. Or, more accurately, my mother inherited them, I found them in a box and asked if I could have them.
I've since made the decision to consciously add to this collection myself. In my eyes, they're the perfect collectible - the sets are functional, available in a wide variety of amazing styles, an inexpensive find at antique stores and flea markets, and take up minimal space.
I inherited 1/5 of a knife collection from my father - about 20 diverse knives. The new ones we are using, but the old ones are so beautiful. Alas, they are currently languishing in a box.
Late in life my father started collecting buffalo. I've always been a collector, so this was something we finally had in common. I was always on the look out for nice pieces for his collection. When he passed, he left the collection to me. I've continued adding to it, buying the pieces I would have bought for my dad. The collection is featured very prominently in my office and I still call it "my dad's collection".
@ Muffy St John - I got my mother's collection of S&P shakers as well. I split it with a friend who also collects - I kept the ones I loved or had specific memories of. It's part of a group of displays I rotate in and out of a display case I have. When the S&P collection is "up", it always gets alot of attention!
Send me those globes - I collect them! :)
I inherited my mother's childhood collection of porcelain animals. Mostly 'familys' of animals. There are lots.... they're packed up in a box in her basement. I keep thinking "I should put them out" but then I'd have to dust them!
Mostly what I've inherited has been odds-and-ends and chosen by me... like the oddball stuff from my grandmother's kitchen, a granny square afghan my great grandmother made, my great great aunt's owl figurines and Pinky figurine/lamp.
I have inherited collections as well. I found if I kept everything other people had collected, I had too much stuff! I finally selected my favorite item from each collection, and passed on the rest.
i inherited my grandfather's marbles.
He had a cool marble collection.
I lost my marbles somewhere in the move.
My father collected banks, mostly cast iron pieces. He died when I was a child, and the bank collection spent the next 20 years boxed up in the attic. Last summer I help my mom and step-dad clean out the attic in preparation for an out-of-state move. My mom and I carefully unpacked the banks, arranging them on the dining room table. We each picked out the few that we loved the most, then picked out one for each of my cousins, step siblings, and other close family members. The rest went to an auction house along with a truckload of other stuff.
The banks I saved are displayed around my apartment. Rather than display them as a single collection, each bank is part of a grouping of other similar/related things. The iron piggy bank sits next to a Chinese ceramic waving pig and a Chilean 3-legged pig (Chanchito). The green and blue magician lives in my bedroom, where he perfectly matches my bedding. The horse is in a shadow box along with several agricultural artifacts from my grandparents.
Um, any suggestions for what to do with MASSIVE amounts of carnival glass?
Funny how nobody in my family collects anything consciously... it's considered clutter ! I would be very sad if we didn't collect without calling it a collection (hello multiple inherited chinas and crystal glasses !).
You didn't mention another option in the article, but mpheels did: keeping some of the collection, and selling or giving the rest away. That would be my solution; keeping the most beautiful and meaningful elements, and letting go of the rest. Sentiment doesn't increase with the number of pieces you keep, so you'll have all of the memory and none of the clutter. That is, if the collection isn't something you would do yourself anyway.
There was just way too much so I only chose what I love. Even that's too much so they are rotated seasonally, or even less frequently, and I identified just 4 places in my home where things rotate from family collections. The rest is either sold or donated and the $'s benefit the charities that particular family member loved and supported during their lifetime (better that than sitting in my dusty attic). So around Easter, on my desk, you'll find a picture my mother painted around that time along with a tray that's set with her egg cups and all the stone and mineral eggs she collected. In Fall, in that same spot, it's a wood puzzle box my father made along with a bird picture (that my mother and I tried to outbid each other for at a charity auction) and my own collection of animal figures carved in amber. Another time, there are collections from Africa or Asia, areas where branches of our family lived. And if I have something from someone, who doesn't make me smile, it's out of this house. I honestly think you should keep only what makes you feel fabulous. So, yes, the beautifully painted Santa from my grandmother who couldn't stand me because I was adopted - when noone in the family wanted it I was so happy to donate it to the local animal welfare thrift shop!
I'm from the minimalist mind set. Life is too short to be bogged down by stuff if you're only hanging on to it to respect loved ones that have passed. Take a beautiful black and white photo of it frame it beautifully and hang it on a wall with a caption. I struggled with this for years, hanging on to stuff my father left me.
My mothers house is filled with the personal possessions of her family which have passed away. Other than sets of china and depression glass not much of it is valuable. I have already told my mother that I don't want any of it except for a lovely soup tureen and family pictures. My sister, who lives next door to my mother will end up inheriting the mess if she doesn't get my mother to sell it /give it away. My mothers sentimental attachment to this stuff is based in her memories of family who owned it. My sister and I lack those memories. We are only interested in things that remind us of her. I had an elderly friend tell me that she spent the first half of her life collecting things and the second half giving them away, editing down to things that she really loves.
Hey... I had that globe piggy bank. I wonder where it is. (Mom's house?)
Love the people not the stuff.
When Grandfather died, my dad, the eldest, brought home a couple of magazine pictures my grandfather decoupaged onto wooden planks. Totally pointless, but Dad would NOT trash them, even though he in no way was involved with the creation of the things and didn't even know what Grandfather thought about them.
If you inherit something you love, by all means keep it if you can. If you only love a couple of the elements of a collection, keep those and pass along the rest -- maybe to other relatives. But if you don't love it, don't feel obliged to hold on otherwise.
We inherited over 3000 ABC books from around the world. My aunt decided to collect them and she traveled all over to collect books from many countries. She even received a grant to do her work. When she passed, we decided to share her collection and donate it to The Newberry Library in Chicago. Check it out if you are in the area - it's a pretty amazing collection - The Jane Gilmartin Gilchrist Collection.
So many cameras... luckily I inherited a few cool looking ones in the midst of so many lousy ones. Goodwill is where most of them went.
I dread this subject. My in-laws are both major collectors and my husband is an only child. Chances are at some point in the next couple decades we're going to have to deal with some huge collections. Luckily my side of the family has more of a throwing away problem than a collecting problem.
As a child, I collected ceramic dogs. Which was OK I guess, but basically, meaningless. I can see, if someone really LOVES a particular type of object or is fascinated by what's available (like numismatics, for example,) collecting might have some value - else, it just seems SO empty! So I would definitely pass on inherited collections, or yes, keep the pieces I love and let the rest go.
Now I have so many beautiful rocks, others might think it's a collection, but in my mind, it's just that I love beautiful rocks. If I only had two, that would be just as good as having quite a few.
Late in life my father started collecting buffalo.
Man, that must have been messy... ;-)
My grandma collected bells. I inherited them when I was probably about 9-10 years old.. I had them displayed in my room but 1. they were really fragile and I didn't want to break them and 2. I felt her lingering spirit around them and it creeped me out big time. We boxed them up and I think my dad has them in a storage unit somewhere...