I love that you saved another woman's legacy, as well as the connection to your family and the inability to have belongings to pass down due to the Holocaust. Beautiful.
Wow.... lovely, sentimental piece. As an avid collector before my eviction from my home of 35 years, I had several collections. The only one I was able to keep was my quilt collection of many one-of-a-kind handmade, mint condition, vintage quilts made in the early 20th century. I treasure it.
Dear Dianne, I'm so sorry to hear about your eviction 35 years ago. I love quilts so much and love going to quilt shops. I was recently in Jonesborough, Tennessee and went to a wonderful quilt shop there. I love the stories behind each quilt. Your quilt collection must be incredible!
I was evicted in 2023 after living in the place for 35 years.
But there's light now. I'm top of the list, after waiting 5 years, for my senior apartment! Just got the news a couple of weeks ago.
Currently my quilts are in a storage unit, climate controlled,. I'm thrilled at the thought of living with them again in my new home.
I began collecting in the mid 80's....all are vintage. I had a shop with a dear friend for a year. It was more profitable to sell them at antique shows. I haven't bought any recently, but cherish the ones I was able to keep.
Congratulations on your new apartment you've waited so long for! I can't even imagine how happy you must be! And yay, you will be reunited with your quilts. I made a quilt years ago for each of my sons with their old tee-shirts of their sporting teams, etc. They are still some of my favorite memories.
This resonates deeply, although I don't have collections. However, countless times family members have dropped off furniture and boxes of picture albums spontaneously. How could I turn away the marble-top credenza that was my mother's pride or the Tibetan 'armoir' my sister couldn't keep after her divorce?! I even have my husband's ex's schooner china from his wedding registry! It goes on and on... My home's a jumble but rich in context.
I love this Elaine-- thank you for sharing your story about not having collections despite having others' collections. I think so often in our lives, we do end up living in our homes with other people's things. Each has a meaning... a story. That then in a way becomes our story, the overlapping of contents and contexts.
Dear Kim, thank you so much for your very kind comment. I'm not sure if antique dealers are much interested in milk glass but that would be wonderful. It is about time for me to part with this collection. So hopefully, I can find a new home for all these pieces.
I don’t collect anything really but your fierce desire to keep the milk glass together was so strong. Did your ex think you were crazy? What did your friends say? Do other people admire it?
Dear MonalisaSmile, I would probably say my ex didn't think I was crazy. I had room in my house at the time, and he prob didn't even notice much. I've always been a collector of things, so I don't think it would've really fazed him much. I don't think I had much reaction from friends either, and I wouldn't say anyone really admired/admires it, other than me. I am drawn to beauty and history and others' lives, so this was a collection perfectly suited for me. Now, I think that I've moved so much and don't have room, I am the one that notices it most and question my need for this collection... I hope to find a new home... soon, very soon.
I have some blue milk glass that I love. But I do love the simplicity and shininess of the white glass. I won't be collecting anymore. I'm at a phase in my life where I am simplifying and reducing my possessions.
This is so lovely. I really admire this piece and the complicated understanding it reveals about inheritance, the construction of legacies, and the way that object also build a larger chosen family. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Nancy! I am so interested as a minimalist, how the essay prompted you to look at things differently? I find that fascinating!
Tamara, I am as excited about the milk glass as you are (although I don’t own any myself). Sometimes possessions help us find our place. I grew up with my mom’s antiquing, in old barns and dusty shops. I saw her joy when she found something. It became a piece of me too. Thanks and yea!
This really resonates, much like your previous writing on how we preserve memory. How do you feel about being the new custodian of someone’s lifes work?
What a lovely essay. As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, I do understand where you're coming from.
For you to feel such a kinship with this woman, with her deeply treasured belongings -- and to create a life around them -- is so special and selfless. To be so devoted to what they represent is so admirable. To give them a home wherever you make your home makes me smile.
Thank you for writing this essay and sharing your "claimed" family heirloom with us.
This was such a moving read! And as I looked at the beautiful pictures you shared my fingers itch to sketch and paint some of these. Would you ever consider arranging them as still life and photographing them to share in artist reference groups? It would be sooooo much work but I had to throw the suggestion out there!
Tamara, this essay and the framing of adopting a family heirloom really moved me. Well done.
Thank you so much, Blair!
I love that you saved another woman's legacy, as well as the connection to your family and the inability to have belongings to pass down due to the Holocaust. Beautiful.
Thank you so much for your close read and comment, Amanda! It means a lot to me. ~Tamara
Wow.... lovely, sentimental piece. As an avid collector before my eviction from my home of 35 years, I had several collections. The only one I was able to keep was my quilt collection of many one-of-a-kind handmade, mint condition, vintage quilts made in the early 20th century. I treasure it.
Dear Dianne, I'm so sorry to hear about your eviction 35 years ago. I love quilts so much and love going to quilt shops. I was recently in Jonesborough, Tennessee and went to a wonderful quilt shop there. I love the stories behind each quilt. Your quilt collection must be incredible!
I was evicted in 2023 after living in the place for 35 years.
But there's light now. I'm top of the list, after waiting 5 years, for my senior apartment! Just got the news a couple of weeks ago.
Currently my quilts are in a storage unit, climate controlled,. I'm thrilled at the thought of living with them again in my new home.
I began collecting in the mid 80's....all are vintage. I had a shop with a dear friend for a year. It was more profitable to sell them at antique shows. I haven't bought any recently, but cherish the ones I was able to keep.
It's fun to know a fellow quilt lover!!
Congratulations on your new apartment you've waited so long for! I can't even imagine how happy you must be! And yay, you will be reunited with your quilts. I made a quilt years ago for each of my sons with their old tee-shirts of their sporting teams, etc. They are still some of my favorite memories.
Hope they like them.
Which reminds me of why I'm such an enthusiast. My Gram made quilts for all four of her grandchildren when we were very young.
Mine was "Sunbonnet Sue" with leftover scraps of fabric she saved from sewing our clothes: skirts, dresses, shorts, and summer tops in the early 50's.
This resonates deeply, although I don't have collections. However, countless times family members have dropped off furniture and boxes of picture albums spontaneously. How could I turn away the marble-top credenza that was my mother's pride or the Tibetan 'armoir' my sister couldn't keep after her divorce?! I even have my husband's ex's schooner china from his wedding registry! It goes on and on... My home's a jumble but rich in context.
I love this Elaine-- thank you for sharing your story about not having collections despite having others' collections. I think so often in our lives, we do end up living in our homes with other people's things. Each has a meaning... a story. That then in a way becomes our story, the overlapping of contents and contexts.
"A jumble but rich in context"...such a wonderful phrase that resonates deeply with my home and my mother's!
How fascinating! This speaks to the collector in each of us and that value occurs on so many levels.
Dear Rose, thank you for your comment and for taking time to read my essay! I'm truly appreciative.
You are a good egg! Maybe an antiques dealer would buy the collection from you.
Dear Kim, thank you so much for your very kind comment. I'm not sure if antique dealers are much interested in milk glass but that would be wonderful. It is about time for me to part with this collection. So hopefully, I can find a new home for all these pieces.
I don’t collect anything really but your fierce desire to keep the milk glass together was so strong. Did your ex think you were crazy? What did your friends say? Do other people admire it?
Dear MonalisaSmile, I would probably say my ex didn't think I was crazy. I had room in my house at the time, and he prob didn't even notice much. I've always been a collector of things, so I don't think it would've really fazed him much. I don't think I had much reaction from friends either, and I wouldn't say anyone really admired/admires it, other than me. I am drawn to beauty and history and others' lives, so this was a collection perfectly suited for me. Now, I think that I've moved so much and don't have room, I am the one that notices it most and question my need for this collection... I hope to find a new home... soon, very soon.
I can’t believe other people don’t admire it! I’ve always liked milk glass. Which color are you drawn to?
Does it make you want to add to the collection? Do you look for more milk glass pieces?
I have some blue milk glass that I love. But I do love the simplicity and shininess of the white glass. I won't be collecting anymore. I'm at a phase in my life where I am simplifying and reducing my possessions.
This is so lovely. I really admire this piece and the complicated understanding it reveals about inheritance, the construction of legacies, and the way that object also build a larger chosen family. Thanks for sharing!
I am a minimalist, and this essay prompts me to look at the things in my life very differently. A beautiful piece. Thank you.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Nancy! I am so interested as a minimalist, how the essay prompted you to look at things differently? I find that fascinating!
What a beautiful and unexpected story. Thank you for that.
Dear Kathy, thank you so much for taking time with my essay about my milk glass collection.
Tamara, I am as excited about the milk glass as you are (although I don’t own any myself). Sometimes possessions help us find our place. I grew up with my mom’s antiquing, in old barns and dusty shops. I saw her joy when she found something. It became a piece of me too. Thanks and yea!
This really resonates, much like your previous writing on how we preserve memory. How do you feel about being the new custodian of someone’s lifes work?
Dear Rainbow Roxy, thank you so much for your message. Being a custodian feels like a responsibility in many ways but it also feels comforting.
This is such a touching piece. I am left feeling both comforted and further intrigued.
Thanks Jen, as always, for your support!
What a lovely essay. As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, I do understand where you're coming from.
For you to feel such a kinship with this woman, with her deeply treasured belongings -- and to create a life around them -- is so special and selfless. To be so devoted to what they represent is so admirable. To give them a home wherever you make your home makes me smile.
Thank you for writing this essay and sharing your "claimed" family heirloom with us.
Thank you for your message, Pearl. I truly appreciate your message. Sending love to you from one Holocaust survivor family to another!
This was such a moving read! And as I looked at the beautiful pictures you shared my fingers itch to sketch and paint some of these. Would you ever consider arranging them as still life and photographing them to share in artist reference groups? It would be sooooo much work but I had to throw the suggestion out there!