Heirlooms and traditions are meant to be protected and respected. They’re what help connect all the different generations in your family tree with a shared heritage. Not only that, but they’re often very physical reminders of the people we love who have passed on. Bored Panda has collected some of the most impressive and unusual examples of family heirlooms ever from all around the internet. It’s proof that you don’t have to inherit a chest full of jewels and gold doubloons for something to be valuable. Scroll down to see what some families’ legacies look like. #1 I Just Inherited This
moon Globe From My Late Grandmother. The Far Side Has A Blank Area As It Was Still Unknown When The Globe Was Made Share icon jb2386 Report No matter how wonderful or extravagant inheritances can be, they can be emotionally messy and physically tiring to sort out. First of all, you’re likely still mourning the loss of a loved one. If you were particularly close, you will need lots of time and support to accept what has happened, to heal, and continue living your life. So, you’re probably not even thinking about what heirlooms they left you in their will. Another issue is that even if you loved someone very dearly, you still most likely might have to give up some of the things they left you. Unless you have a very large home or you’re blessed with plenty of storage, you couldn’t possibly accommodate every tiny little thing they were sentimental about, from furniture and photo albums to hobby knick-knacks and a hundred different dolls they collected. #4 My Paternal Great-Grandfather, Harry, Proposed To My Great-Grandmother, Edith, With This Five-Stone Opal Engagement Ring Full Of
fire. I Inherited It After My Grandmother Passed Away In 1990 Share icon Not sure of the year they married, but my grandfather was born (in wedlock) in 1908, so the ring and box are 113+ years old! The box is as fascinating as the ring. It is leather, velvet-lined, hinged, and secured with a latch hook. Most importantly to me, inside the ring, alongside the Maker’s Marks, is the inscription “With Harry’s Love”. Heather Godden Report If your relative was a particularly energetic collector (or had a gentle inclination toward hoarding), you might find yourself having to sort through boxes and boxes of things. Some of these items might be historically valuable, and you’d like to keep them. Others might have had a deep sentimental value to their original owner that might be lost on you. But the reality is that many of the things you’ve inherited may have no real place in your home. You might not want them, or they might simply not (physically) fit at home. And holding on to hundreds of things out of guilt is no way to go through life. Some of the items you find while sorting through your loved one’s home might be worth selling or donating to charity if they’re in good enough condition. Others, inevitably, might have to be thrown away… or subtly given to your other relatives to see if they’d like them. AARP suggests going through your family photo albums one at a time to figure out which pictures your relatives may want to keep in the future. From our perspective, all photos are valuable. However, from a practical standpoint, you need to prioritize what you leave behind if you have dozens and dozens of albums. #13 Great-Great-Grandmother’s Necklace Share icon By request, here is the other piece of jewelry from my great-great-grandmother! Unfortunately, there are no maker marks on this one or that’s the case, either. Mc_Tater Report #15 I Inherited A Century-Old Cast Iron Waffle Maker This Christmas. It Still Cooks Amazing Waffles Share icon It’s not quite 100, but it will be in the next year. My great-grandfather purchased it new. I remember eating waffles fresh out of it at my grandmother’s house thirty years ago. My mom has had it for the past fifteen years and decided to gift it to me this
Christmas, as she knows I love cast iron cookery. ijusthavenoidea Report The same goes for toys, furniture, artwork, etc.: ideally, you sort out what’s worth keeping from what you have a superficial attachment to. It really helps if you have someone you care about by your side as you’re doing some spring cleaning. Another perspective is often helpful. #16 I Inherited This Perfume Bottle Necklace When My Mom Passed Away. I Think She Wore It In The 70s. And I Just Found Out It Has A Secret – This Pointy, Mini Arrow-Looking Thing Comes Out Share icon bethshurt Report #17 Made A Bar Of Soap Out Of My Father-In-Law’s Inherited 110-Year-Old Soap Press For His Birthday (Stanley Soap Co. Est. 1865, NYC) Share icon Stanley is indeed their family name. His great-grandfather was John T. Stanley, who emigrated from
England to the
United States in 1860 at the age of 17. He was skilled in soap and candle making at the time however, his first
Job was in collecting animal fat from around the city. Now my history of how he parlayed this trade into soap making is a bit hazy at the moment but I’ll be sure to get the full story after we blow out some candles on my father-in-law’s cake. lucybri83 Report At the end of the day, you choose what to do with your inheritance. If you’ve been handed down a gorgeous signet ring, massive family photo album, gilded spellbook, stylish car, high-quality tools, or a magical sword, then everything’s pretty clear: you take good care of these items until you can pass them on to the next generation. In this case, it’s very obvious that these items have a long and storied history that’s worth preserving. #20 My Friend Showed Me An Envelope Of Photographs He Inherited From His Father Who Worked On The
bomb Share icon His father was not the photographer – the photographs were mailed to him from the infamous “PO Box 1663” in Santa Fe and were taken at Bikini Atoll. His dad went to Notre Dame, MIT, and USC, and had degrees in chemical engineering, architectural engineering, and nuclear physics. NoodleBlitz Report #21 I Inherited These Vintage Drawing Tools From My Grandpa. It Probably Belonged To My Great-Grandpa. It Came With A Vintage “How To Sketch” Book Share icon muffintestine Report It can be a huge help if the person leaving behind their things mentions what is and isn’t important and why in their will. It’s easy to assume that absolutely everyone will know not to throw away a respected family heirloom, but not everyone might know their own history in such detail. If the heirloom is slightly unusual (like a vintage toaster, quality iron waffle maker, or old-timey radio), you might need some guidance and a gentle reminder that what you have is genuinely good, even if it doesn’t glitter like gold. #23 When My Grandfather Passed Away I Inherited This. Needs Some Work But My Grandpa Had Good Taste Share icon kitkatzz Report #24 Inherited My Great-Grandmother’s Crystal Ball Share icon This crystal ball was passed down from my great-grandmother to my nana and now to me. It’s my most prized possession that I can’t stop looking at. I also love the stand that my nana got – three meerkats! mochimeggie Report All that being said, it’s a reminder that you shouldn’t rely just on your will to remind everyone that your family has an important legacy to preserve. It’s very important to maintain this living knowledge throughout your life. A big part of that is doing research into your family’s roots, recounting stories from the past, and maintaining family traditions. #26 I Inherited My Grandmother’s Pencil Sharpener From My Aunt About Five Years Ago And This Beast Has Been Tirelessly Working In My Classroom For Three Years Share icon I teach 5th and 6th grade math. I have no idea how old it is, but it’s certainly older than all the students and even some of the teachers. alja1 Report #27 I Inherited David Clark Headsets After My Dad Passed Away. My Dad Used Them Flying Helicopters In The Army Share icon My dad used them while flying helicopters in the Army, then in the National Guard. I adapted them for use when I maintenance taxi commercial aircraft for a major airline. They still sound great and will probably outlast me as well. MentalEntropy Report Now, the family traditions themselves don’t have to be anything overly elaborate—though they can be! What’s important is that your family has traditions and you all get together, not the specific details of how you do things. Getting together for a meal every Sunday can be a wonderful tradition. It might even eventually turn your pancake pan or waffle maker into veterans of a thousand brunches and highly coveted heirlooms. However, keep in mind that the items themselves have to be made of quality materials and with excellent craftsmanship to stand the test of time. #28 This Is A Polaroid 800 Land Camera From The Late 1950s. I Inherited It From My Aunt In 2007 Share icon I used it decoratively until I realized that it accepted 4×5 sheet film without modification. Now, it’s my go-to, large-format film camera. goodcheapandfast Report #29 My Wife’s Whirley-Pop That Her Grandmother Used. Still Makes Perfect Popcorn Every Time Share icon hezzyb Report Which of the heirlooms that we’ve featured in this post impressed you the most, dear Pandas? What are the most interesting things that you’ve inherited from your family? What are the coolest things you hope to leave behind for your kids? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. #33 My Best Friend Passed Away Unexpectedly A Few Months Ago. We Were Both Hardcore Gamers And I Inherited His Tangible Collection And Added It To My Much Smaller One And Made A Tribute To Him Share icon Some of these things he had since he was barely out of diapers. There are so many gems here. 8bit-meow Report #34 I Inherited This Handmade Gold Ring After My Father Passed. My Mom Told Me It’s Been Passed Through The Family For 400 Years. I’ve Never Known What It Says, Nor Did He Share icon nsteck10 Report #35 My Grandpa’s Razor I Inherited. Used To Shave With Him (Without Razor In) When Little. 25 Years Later, I’m Here, Cleaned It Up And Threw a New Razor In. 1940s Gold Plated DE Share icon rivet_head99 Report #40 My Grandma Passed Away & I Will Inherit This Old Story & Clark Baby Grand That Originally Belonged To My Great-Grandmother (Hence The 60’s/70’s Avocado Green) Share icon My dad thinks it may have been satin black originally… Is there any hope of removing the paint to get the original finish? olivia_noelle15 Report #41 Today Is My Daughter’s 5th Birthday, And Today She Inherited My Beloved Childhood Dollhouse Share icon All ready for the birthday girl! I’ve been fixing up all the furniture and making new bits for it for the last few weeks. Kitchen, as a surprise for me, my amazing brother carefully dismantled the whole house, packed it up, and shipped it over to our
UK home from
Canada where it had been in storage. Master, still have to fix up the baby’s cot which will go with the rocker. My sister-in-law made the tufted rug. In the living room, the rug is a squirrel skin my mother was gifted in the 5th grade from a boy who had a crush on her. Bathroom! the majority of the furniture (and the house itself) was purchased in
Germany in the early ’90s when my
MILITARY dad was posted there (we lived there for 5 years.) In the kids’ room, my mum has made the bunks new bedding since this photo was taken. The cars for the car mat are buttons. And in the entryway, the lights are strings of fairy lights with the battery packs strategically hidden. I didn’t want to do anything too permanent, so they’re just taped up for now. ladysearah Report #43 This Lovely Vintage Pendant Was Just Passed Down To Me From My Grandmother. Rose Quartz And Amethyst. It Has A Secret Compartment Share icon brittlebittle Report #45 My Grandfather’s Pocket Watch. I Plan On Fixing It Up And Giving It Back To My Mom Share icon My mom knows my interest in watches and showed me her dad’s old pocket watch that my grandmother got for my grandfather for my mom’s wedding. It’s not currently running and is missing the crystal and the second hand, but otherwise, in great condition. I’m picking up the hobby of watch repair, so when I become proficient, I’m going to fix it up and give it back to her. A little research shows this as a Waltham Colonial Series Royal. I’ll take off the case in the future and get the serial number to get a more exact date of manufacture. Looking forward to getting this all fixed and running. ShamusNC Report #46 Almost 100-Year-Old Wine My Grandpa Inherited From His Grandpa. He Dug Out A Few Bottles For An Event Today Share icon neverthemood Report #48 My Grandfather’s Pencil Sharpener Collection I Inherited Share icon Some backstory behind this: my grandfather died before I was born. My family always told me how genuinely nice and cool he was, even to strangers. Growing up, whenever I visited my grandparents’ house, I would see a shelf proudly displaying his collection. My grandmother passed away when I was 18 or 19, and none of my father’s six siblings or my father himself were going to claim the collection of sharpeners. I couldn’t let it go to waste. mattygraddy Report #50 My Grandmother Gifted Me With This Ring A Few Years Before She Passed Away. I Loved It Because It Was From Her, And Because It Was Totally Strange Share icon Recently, I showed my mom and aunt (her daughters), and neither had ever seen it before. I’m guessing it’s a treasure my grandfather brought home from his Navy or Merchant Marine adventures. Initially, I thought it was costume jewelry, goldtone cloisonne. However, I recently discovered it’s 22k solid gold, enamel-painted, made in
Spain in the 1940s or 1950s, which is why I think my grandfather had a hand in this. My grandmother likely gifted it to me because I’m a total water, beach, boat, and fish lover! I’ve never seen anything like it, but I’m hoping someone else has. Isn’t he funky and fierce? Look at those teeth! Kim Wunderlich-Cady Report #52 I Inherited The Family
Pennsylvania Tuxedo Share icon My dad’s Woolrich outerwear has kept me warm on many cold hunting days. It’s extremely functional and has endured years of walking through brambles and brush. The buffalo check plaid is easy for other hunters to see. Deer can’t see red, so it breaks up the silhouette and serves as effective and quiet camouflage. My dad is okay, he just outgrew it. Featuring a thrifted HBC eight-point blanket. Tamias-striatus Report #53 GE A10 T17 Toaster, It’s Close To 50 Years Old And Still Used Daily. It Was My Grandmother’s Until She Passed Away, And I Ended Up With It. They Don’t Make Them Like This Anymore Share icon Kakariti Report #54 This Ice Cream Scooper We Inherited From My Grandma When We Moved Into Her House. We Use It All The Time And It Seems Indestructible Share icon d7it23js Report #55 My Pocket Compass Is Engraved “Eng. DEPT. U.S.A. 1918”. Wish I Had Paid More Attention Who Had Owned These Things When My Parents Passed Them On To Me Share icon It’s too late to ask them now. But the compass still points to magnetic north after 99 years! Logybayer Report #56 I Inherited A Neat Lion’s Head Cane With A Secret Compartment Containing A Glass Vial For… Storage Share icon Zenmetsu- Report #60 My Grandparents Had This Lamp In Their House Since At Least The Early 70s. Pretty Sure It Was A Ceiling Lamp At One Time, But I Inherited It And Kept It As A Desk Lamp Share icon To my surprise, it’s made from uranium glass. buzzbot235 Report #62 My Grandfather Was Stationed In
Italy During World War II. He Picked This Up For My Grandmother. I Was Lucky To Inherit This From Them After They Passed Away Share icon My birthstone is sapphire as well, so this is extra special to me. We even had our house robbed, but they missed it, thank goodness. Debbie Parchen Duncan Report #63 My Ace Liner That I Inherited From My Grandpa. This Version Was Made In The 1960s. Weighing In At 1.4 Lbs, It’s Indestructible Share icon SpenRob96 Report #66 Cast Iron Grill. I Love Everything About This. Should Survive Multiple Generations Of Use. Super Portable And Versatile. You Can Find Fuel Anywhere Share icon snoopsdream Report #67 Wife Inherited The Nice Silverware From Her Grandmother. Thought The Little Box Inside Was Silver Polish At First Share icon Sinistralas Report #68 I Inherited These From My Grandparents. My Grandfather Was In The Air Force And Lived In
Japan Post WWII, So I Assume They Are From Japan Share icon Crbn8ed Report #69 I’ve Been Fascinated By This Paperweight Of My Grandpa’s For As Long As I Can Remember. Today, I Inherited It Share icon sauntimo Report #70 My Wife Inherited This Table From Her Grandpa. She Thinks It’s Called A “Skittles Table”, But Can’t Find Much On What It Is, Or How To Play Share icon ghollowell Report #73 I Recently Inherited This Very Old Bible From My Grandmother. It’s Really Cool – The Cover Is Dimensional With The Gold Areas Protruding Share icon lizziecuppcake Report #74 First I Inherited An Awesome Tankard. Now I Get This Cocktail Shaker With An Awesome Twist Share icon It allows you to select which cocktail you want to make, and it even tells you which ingredients and quantities you need. Crowdfunder101 Report #78 When My Grandfather Passed Away, I Inherited His Auto Crawler. I’m Still Using It To Change My
Oil After 80 Years Share icon testfire10 Report #79 Just Inherited My Great-Grandmother’s Kitchen Aid (Hobart) A-9 Coffee Grinder. This Model Was Discontinued In 1947, But It Still Helped Make A Great Cup Of Coffee This Morning Share icon micahd98 Report #80 Inherited My Grandfather’s Gym Bag. 1970s Pleather With Riveted-On Handles And Those Old Steel Zippers That Never, Ever Break Open Share icon UncleDankBong Report #81 Inherited A Vanity Desk Built In 1870, Previously Owned By My Great-Grandmother, Grandmother, And Mother. I Am Grateful Share icon 6b6r6 Report #82 A Kennedy Toolbox I Recently Inherited From My Grandpa. He Used It When He Worked For The US Department Of Energy In The 1960s (Back Then It Was The Department Of Atomic Energy) Share icon All drawers slide out flawlessly, and it’s built like a tank. All I had to do was run a wire wheel on some rusty corners and give it a bit of paint. Here’s to 60 more years with this thing! tannerkane Report #88 One Of These “Bad Boys” From The Early ’80s, I Think. Inherited From My Dear Late Grandmother Share icon It has gotten me through several harsh cold snaps during winter as supplemental heat in my bedroom. Bathing in its warmth right now. Defenestrationism Report #93 My 100-Year-Old Grandma Died In January And I Inherited Her Recipes. We Were Really Close, Shared A Love Of Cooking And I Am Excited To Try Them Out! First Up Is Her Coffee Cake Recipe Share icon wcoast191911 Report #94 Antique Vase Inherited From My Grandfather Share icon Does anyone know anything about this? My grandfather lived in
Iran and had this since I remember and he passed away at 100 years old in 2020. The stones seem like they are turquoise and maybe agate. Any information is appreciated. CrystalHummingBirdie Report #95 She’s 60 Years Old And Fabulous. Inherited One Of My Late Grandma’s Bags. Not A Designer Bag, Just A Vintage Beauty Share icon w33kndxotwod Report #97 Inherited My Dad’s 1975 Targa 911S Share icon My mom got this car as a gift for my dad before I was born (1980s). It only came out on special occasions, sometimes for him to take my mom on a beautiful sunny day date, and it has never seen the rain. It’s bittersweet that it’s now mine. I have great memories riding around in it with him. I’m so honored to take care of it. xPolLuTicOrnx Report Publisher