penandpatience

WRITERS WORDS: “An Uncle of mine emigrated to Canada and couldn’t take his guitar with him, when I found it in the attic, I’d found a friend for life.” – Sting

FEBRUARY 2022 MONTHLY MUSING

ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, MEMORABILIA, JUNK – WHAT’S IN YOUR ATTIC?

It’s Winter. The cold winds doth blow. It’s the perfect season to take stock of previous and present accumulations of “stuff.”

Unfortunately, “stuff” is a broad definition of purchased, inherited or gifted items stored helter-skelter in attics, garages, basements or high cupboards not reopened since the last community sale two years ago.  Well…now is the perfect time. A brief categorization of “stuff” follows:

ANTIQUE:  A collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age.

COLLECTIBLES:  Items valued and sought by collectors and worth far more than it originally sold for because of its rarity, popularity as well as condition.

MEMORABILIA: Objects kept or collected because of historical interest, especially those associated with memorable people and events.

JUNK: Old or discarded articles, objects considered useless or of little value.

I muse.  Where to begin? I suggest taking one item at a time.  Many years ago, a now deceased co-worker/friend gifted me with an Avon tray with floral design knowing I loved any and all items floral. (Pictured above) Written on the tray’s reverse side is “Avon. Made in England.”

Although relieved it didn’t say, “Made in China,” some collectors might consider an aged Avon product a collectible. I perceive this tray as a memento and filed it under memorabilia. Why? Because I have fond memories of many shared lunches with this former friend. Today, the tray has a home in a spare bedroom on a dresser top. This keepsake might be considered junk by someone else and transferred to the next garage sale bin. However, perception is key. Any item could be perceived as junk or a must-have treasure.

There are many purchased items that fit most of the “stuff” categories. The Bone China dish set purchased in the early twentieth century inherited from a maternal grandmother and gathering dust for years in the attic could be categorized as a collectible, memorabilia and, after a formal evaluation, an antique. Items fill our suitcases when we return from our many travels: T-shirts, figurines, mugs, artifacts, jewelry, unique housewares and bric-a-brac, etc. etc. etc.

I muse… What about great-grandfather’s huge, old cuckoo clock in the rec room? And Uncle Ben’s vase from Germany when he returned from World War II?   A brass spittoon now filled with matchbooks collected since the early 1960’s.

However, Junk =Garbage or Recycle Bin for pickup. If it’s broken and cannot be repaired, it should get tossed. Any well used item that has seen better days, no longer used and taking up space needs to be thrown out.

Here are a few tips: Tune in to a PBS (public broadcasting system) local station and watch “Antique Roadshow.” They showcase a lot of presented “stuff” to show and evaluate for viewers.  The internet has many sites for viewing (i.e., Etsy, Amazon, E-Bay, Ruby Lane) and always check out your town/county Antique stores.  Also, community Garage Sales might also provide an unexpected and valuable item.  A homeowner’s disposable item just might become your new treasure.

February 14 is Valentine Day.  Happy Valentine’s Day to all!