From mother to daughter

LaMedicine · Jun 10, 2011

Or grandmother to grand daughter, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, aunt to niece, one female member of the family to another.
Is there anything you were given, or, expect to pass on, whether coincidental or with intent? A special dress, an article of jewelry, silverware or chinaware, some furniture, or anything that means something? Something that may not quite be termed as an heirloom (I know there's an heirloom thread somewhere) but means something to you because it was passed on to you, or you want to pass it on to your daughter or some other female person related to you.
Do you have any photographs?

For us Japanese, it's common to pass on kimonos, especially formal ones, from mother to daughter, aunt to niece, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law.

My aunt, 1943.

Her daughter (my cousin) 1969.
The collar looks different, but that's because the original collar became soiled, so it was taken off, turned over and reattached so the motif on the collar is on the inside.

Me, 1963.

My daughter, 2011.
An aunt on my mother's side gave me the obi (sash) that my daughter is wearing, so she has on two items passed on to her from her senior generation--the kimono from her mother, obi from her great aunt.

Drappa · Jun 10, 2011

Beautiful kimonos! In my culture, it is usually gold jewellery You receive a lot on your wedding day, and it is kept in a bank safe in case you ever need money. I didn't get much, because I didn't like it back then and our family gave us money. I did get my grandmother's jewellery, mostly amber and some silver, and it is special to me because I was very close to her and miss her.
I also inherited one of her fur coats, but don't wear it and only keep it for sentimental reasons.

LizzieMaine · Jun 10, 2011

In my family it's household goods -- most specifically, a breadboard made by my great-great-grandfather for my great-great-grandmother and passed down each generation until me. It's going on 150 years old, has pits worn in the edges from all the hands that have kneaded dough on it, and it's still in regular use whenever I bake anything.

I don't have kids, but I do have a niece who'll eventually get it. Hopefully she'll learn to bake by then.

zombi · Jun 10, 2011

I have my mother's mother's wedding band. It is the slender gold ring in this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katherynne/5769722436/in/photostream

I don't think it was anyone's before my grandmother, but it was hers, then my mother's, then mine.

Miss sofia · Jun 10, 2011

I have my Gran's set of pyrex dishes and enamelware, which i took when we were sorting through her things, they mean more to me than the jewels of hers i inherited, as i remember her using them all the time when i was a child, i inherited her engagement and wedding ring and a lovely set of pearls, plus a stunning victorian gold and garnet necklace, none of which i wear as they are with my parents for safe-keeping but have enormous sentimental value. I do use her compact and wear some of her gloves too, which are very special to me.

I would hope one of my nieces would like to have the dishes and use them like i do, although strangely my son is fond of the enamelware and always eats his breakfast and snacks off them, so perhaps they will go down through the family through him.

On my father's side, we have a parure of jewels which were my great-grandmothers and are used for weddings, the italians are more traditional about such things. My female cousin has worn them and my sister, so it's just me that needs to tie the knot and wear the beauties! It is understood they are to always be kept in the family which is nice. I also inherited a gold choker/collar from my italian grandmother, again my parents have it for safe-keeping, they were traditionally given to a woman on her wedding day by her parents, transcending class or status, it's not something i would ever wear, but i hope to pass it onto any grand-daughter i may have or failing that my niece.

I did have my late fathers communion cross and chain which he wore till he died and which i wore every day until i took it off one day, why i don't know and the flat i shared got burgled, it was the saddest day imaginable, hence why i'm so precious about keeping my other bits with my parents who have a safe.

ThePowderKeg · Jun 10, 2011

Lizzie, I love the description of your breadboard - it sounds wonderful, like it offers some kind of good baking karma. I have one of my grandfather's wooden spoons that I treasure.

My grandmother had Corelle - white plates with blue asterisks/stars around the edges. We ate off those dishes every day. I had them for a while, then passed them on to my cousin. She will eventually pass them to a younger cousin, and we keep them moving through the family so all of us who remember eating Saturday cheeseburgers off those plates get to own them for a while. They're nothing fancy, but they make all of us smile.

And I agree with Drappa - those kimonos are stunning.

Land-O-LakesGal · Jun 11, 2011

ThePowderKeg said:
Lizzie, I love the description of your breadboard - it sounds wonderful, like it offers some kind of good baking karma. I have one of my grandfather's wooden spoons that I treasure.

My grandmother had Corelle - white plates with blue asterisks/stars around the edges. We ate off those dishes every day. I had them for a while, then passed them on to my cousin. She will eventually pass them to a younger cousin, and we keep them moving through the family so all of us who remember eating Saturday cheeseburgers off those plates get to own them for a while. They're nothing fancy, but they make all of us smile.

And I agree with Drappa - those kimonos are stunning.

I haven't recieved too much from my family although my sister hates clutter and doesn't seem very interested in anything vintage or antique so expect that I will get the dishes china silver and my moms collection of depression glass. (of course she would be welcome to share but I seriously doubt that she would be interested). I inherited my husbands Grandmothers Featherweight sewing machine this way no one in the direct line was interested so my mother in law gave it to me.

MaryDeluxe · Jun 11, 2011

If you read my blog you will know that I have the "George and Fran" love letters. (the love letters my Grandfather wrote to my Grandmother before they were married from early 40's) I also have Fran's engagement ring. I was given the ring because it is passed down from Mother to daughter and both my Mother and myself are named after my Grandmother. It was just pure luck that I found the letters. Apparently when my Grandfather died, years after my Grandmother, things were being sorted out and my Mother got a card board box filled with random papers. She put the box away in a closet not paying it to much attention. Years later I took a class in college about family history and my Mom said go have a look in that box, I think there might be pictures there. There were more then pictures there and I will treasure those love letters and plan on passing them on in my family someday. I posted all the letters and family history in my blog so the rest of my family can read them...but I have found that a lot of people enjoyed reading them too!

~MaryDeluxe

Wire9Vintage · Jun 11, 2011

My mother was given a pearl necklace by her brother that he got in Japan just after the war. He ran an RnR post in a Japanese hotel and became friends with the Japanese manager, who gave him the necklace as a token of friendship. I was given it for my wedding, and I will pass it on to my daughters to share. But that might be wishful thinking!

I Adore Film Noir · Jun 11, 2011

LaMedicine,

The kimonos are beautiful.

I've inherited all of Gram's dishes, one set is banded in gold. Kitchen implements including the ones with red wooden handles, Ridgway Willow Ware, depression glass etc. The cocktail shaker and glasses is a favorite.

Gracie Lee · Jun 12, 2011

Both of my families pass on jewelry. On my father's side, I have my great aunt's mother-in-law's brooch from the mid-1800s, as well as my great-grandmother's jet necklace. My sister has my great-grandmother's coral necklace. I received several pieces from both my grandmother and great aunt on my grandmother's passing last year. On my wedding day, I will also receive my great-grandmother's pearls. They are traditionally passed from mother to daughter, but my father was an only child so my grandmother gifted them to my mother on my parents' wedding day. Prior to that, our family was in Germany, and they brought next to nothing over with them. On my mother's side, I'll receive a ring from my grandmother when she passes (no time soon, God willing!) and my great-grandmother's engagement ring upon my mother's passing, which will be hopefully even further off. One of the pieces from my great aunt on my father's side will be remodeled (it's a fairly modern piece which no one in the family remembers seeing her wear) to become my engagement set, and a pair of her earrings has already been remodeled into matching necklaces for my sister and me.

Mae Croft · Jun 13, 2011

LaMedicine said:
Or grandmother to grand daughter, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, aunt to niece, one female member of the family to another.
Is there anything you were given, or, expect to pass on, whether coincidental or with intent? A special dress, an article of jewelry, silverware or chinaware, some furniture, or anything that means something? Something that may not quite be termed as an heirloom (I know there's an heirloom thread somewhere) but means something to you because it was passed on to you, or you want to pass it on to your daughter or some other female person related to you.
Do you have any photographs?

For us Japanese, it's common to pass on kimonos, especially formal ones, from mother to daughter, aunt to niece, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law.

My aunt, 1943.

Her daughter (my cousin) 1969.
The collar looks different, but that's because the original collar became soiled, so it was taken off, turned over and reattached so the motif on the collar is on the inside.

Me, 1963.

My daughter, 2011.
An aunt on my mother's side gave me the obi (sash) that my daughter is wearing, so she has on two items passed on to her from her senior generation--the kimono from her mother, obi from her great aunt.

What fabulous kimono! The women in your family are absolutely stunning!

thedanu · Jul 27, 2011

I got these earrings and the cameo from my mother. The earrings used to belong to my grandmother's grandmother, which I guess makes them at least around 1900. They are black stone (not sure about which one) and gold, and the box is also really old.
I know the cameo used to belong to my grandmother, but I don't know if she got it from her mother/granmother as well, so I'm not sure about how old it is.

adouglasmhor · Jul 27, 2011

I have no sisters and my mum gave my girlfriend some 1950's blouses, a 1940s sun dress, a cocktail dress and gloves that had belonged to her mother, a canteen of cutlery made by mum's grandfather.
I got granddad's masonic ring and his unusual dark blue evening dress scarf (they are usually white) and I wear his black crossgrain diamond ended bow tie in black tie. (I know I am intruding on the Ladies thread please excuse me)

rene_writer · Jul 27, 2011

I have a sterling silver "J" ring that my grandma made in highschool that I wear daily. I was given it because we have the same initial. I also have my great-great aunt's gold and jade Chinese medallion because it was too "blingy" for the other women in the family.

I Adore Film Noir · Jul 27, 2011

thedanu said:
I got these earrings and the cameo from my mother. The earrings used to belong to my grandmother's grandmother, which I guess makes them at least around 1900. They are black stone (not sure about which one) and gold, and the box is also really old.
I know the cameo used to belong to my grandmother, but I don't know if she got it from her mother/granmother as well, so I'm not sure about how old it is.

I'm going to venture the earrings are obsidian.

thedanu · Jul 27, 2011

I Adore Film Noir said:
I'm going to venture the earrings are obsidian.

I guess that either obsidian or onyx. I should actually have asked mom, my parents are both geologists

MrSpadesGirl · Aug 3, 2011

When my maternal Grandmother died in November 2009, I got several things. We were very close and I miss her more than words can say. None of them are of real monitary value, but they mean the world to me. Among them was:

A huge collection of pink Depression Glass and a few teal Depression Glass items
Quilts made by my Great Grandmother
A c.1945 handmade black and white gingham apron
Assortment of kitchen things (baking pans, hand mixers, etc)
Costume jewelry and hair combs that I wear often
Various night gowns and robes, although most of them are 1970's era nylon
c.1860s hair pins that belonged to my Great x3 Grandmother
My Great Grandmother's compact, which I carry with me and use every day

I would like to post pictures of the hair pins I mentioned because I don't know anything about them and how they are worn. I'm sure some of you lovely ladies will know.

I have two sons and no daughters. I do have a niece (my sister got the Green Depression Glass collection), so perhaps I will pass the things on to her. For now, they are my special treasures.

Patricia Lynn · Aug 4, 2011

I have a few things from my grandmother, who passed away at 103. Mostly quilts she hand-sewed, a thimble, a couple of her cotton day dresses, and a little brooch. My mother-in law, who is from Florence, gave me a lot, as she has no daughters and I'm the favorite daughter in law. She doles out a couple things a year to me, including a bobbin lace tablecloth (she called it tombolo) made by her grandmother, a gorgeous red silk damask bedspread that has no seams in it (one huge piece of damask with trim on the edge) that was part of her mother's trousseau, a little painting she made after the war, some linens and table items. Its very sweet she is trusting me with them.

kymeratale · Aug 4, 2011

Being the only daughter of an only child on one side and the only granddaughter on the other, I have a fair bit of jewellery from both my grandmothers. Three sets of pearls, one wedding ring (plus my mom's set), quite a bit of 50s and 60s sparkly brooches and earrings, a mother of pearl sweater guard... Quite a bit actually. I also have my grandmother's china dinner set, her silverware, my mom's china and silver tea sets as well as her crystal glasses (a glass for every kind of drink you can think of!). The one with the most sentimental value however is my mom's silverware set. Her grandmother who she absolutely adored started giving her pieces when she was a little girl for birthdays and Christmases. A fork here, a spoon there until she had a full set in her late teens. My family was very working class, so that was the only way she was going to get something that costly, a bit at a time. I keep meaning to actually get all the china and silver out and cleaned up so I can actually use it. There woudl be some fancy dinners at my place if I got it all out for one meal!

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