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When we were first married, we took my mother-in-law to an antique store and I fell in love with a player piano! I commented that maybe someday I'd be able to afford one. My mother-in-law laughed and said "you could have had one for free years ago!" I stared. She went on to say that her parents had one in their apartment. It had been an aunt's who no longer wanted it. They had some great times playing songs, probably even "rolled up the carpets." When it came time to buy their first house, the movers wanted "way too much" to move it. So they left it there with a note to the new renters to "have fun!" I nearly cried but it was understandable. A while back my dear Aunt M. was at our house. We have a new standing lamp, "in the style of" a Tiffany. Quite nice but it is not the real thing. She asked me if I hated to clean it. I said it was no big deal. She said when she was a kid, her job was to dust the knick-knacks and clean the stained glass lamps around the house. And she HATED it! When her dad got a large promotion, they actually threw out the old furniture and replaced everything with new. She and her brother were allowed (with parental supervision) to go out back and break up the old glass lamps into itty-bitty pieces. Their new lamps were metal and had simple lines and "limited dusting time." I did cry at this information, but not in front of her. The same aunt told me the story of her aunt's demise. Everyone assumed this old lady was "dirt-poor." She had worked for a local insurance company all her life, never married, rented in a less-than-classy area, and while she always look clean and proper, she never wore anything new or flashy. My aunt and uncle would take her hot meals two or three times a week to be sure she got enough to eat. She died at age 89. When they went to clean up her apartment, they were shocked! For in her closet were 3 new fur coats, over 28 new dresses, most with tags on, and 7 jewelry boxes filled to the brim. Some was costume jewelry, but the majority of it was "good stuff." They took it home. My aunt wore some of the clothing but was not, as she put it, a clothes horse nor into jewels and ritzy things. So they packed up the furs and jewelry and donated it to a local charity. A few days later she got a call from the president of that charity, from his headquarters in New York. He wanted to "personally thank her for her generosity." She never had it appraised or checked out. She did think it was odd to get that kind of attention. This time I cried right in front of her. We all hear stories about the things that were tossed out, or the broken items, or things grandma had that we left at the curb because it was funny-looking and did not think anyone would want it. I think because of Ebay and other Internet sales, auction publications, Antiques Roadshow, etc. we are much more savvy these days. In fact, in many cases, people think their things are worth well more than they actually are. Even young kids today know that sports memorabelia should be left in its box to ensure its worth. Or to leave labels and tags on and save the containers. We have come a long way. We must save these treasures, even if they mean nothing to us personally. So, please, if you are intending to break up your Tiffany lamps tomorrow, contact me first - I'd be so glad to help you out!
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