When my sister and I cleaned out our parents’ home, we
had to make many decisions about what to do with all the stuff. Which things
are truly “valuable” and which have only sentiment in their favor? Should we
sell it, keep it, or throw it away? To help ensure a future for our family’s
heirlooms, I plan to leave a booklet for my daughters telling the stories of
what they will inherit one day. (Not TOO soon, I hope!) With this challenge I
begin my book of Heirlooms.
is for the table built by my husband Barry’s paternal
grandfather John Mathias. It was made from scraps of oak left over from the
construction of Barry’s childhood home. His dad and grandfather built that too
in 1948.
John and Essie Mathias Barry's grandparents |
The table was never intended as “fine furniture.” They
never lived that way. The table was sanded, stained, and varnished, but still
it has a roughness to it. The wood of the table top is not perfect; in fact the
back left corner is pocked with dips and holes that suggest the wood may have
come from a diseased tree.
As for construction, there are no fancy cuts - all
straight. Nails attaching the frame to the legs are clearly visible, no attempt
to disguise them with wood putty.
Barry remembers the table always under the double windows
in the upstairs hall. That is where his mother grew her African violets
and other flowers because the light was so good there.
Now we use it as a side table in the family room. On it
sits an old chicken feed scoop from the family farm. It makes a good gathering
spot for extra glasses and remote controls.
Wendy
© 2018, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
That table is beautiful and a real family treasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I like this table. It's a good size.
DeleteI have similar things I cherish and that I have lugged from home to home over the years. The Heirloom book is a good idea and I will add that to my list of projects. Thanks.
ReplyDeletehttp://shirleyjdietz.com/2018/04/23/a-to-z-selling-our-house-letter-t
Doesn't everyone need another project? HA! Thanks for visiting.
DeleteIt looks like a beautiful table and built from scraps from a home they also built - doesn't get much better.
ReplyDeleteI know - I think it's such a nice thing to then build a new table for the new house.
DeleteI think it is neat with the history behind the table and how it was constructed. Looks pretty good too in the picture!
ReplyDeletebetty
Thanks. Being aware of the history behind the table makes me wonder about furniture in antiques shops and thrift stores. What are their stories?
DeleteI LOVE that table and the chicken feed scoop! I love a home that is full of meaningful treasures like those. Can I say it again....you are SO lucky!
ReplyDeleteYes, you may say it. I know I am lucky.
DeleteI still remember the furniture my grandfather had made for their house after the war. When they came to Australia they were not able to bring much and had little money. Grandpa made a desk and chair and also some outdoor furniture. My aunt and her daughters inherited these but I don’t think they have survived various house moves :(
ReplyDeleteRegards
Anne
Fellow A to Z-er
https://ayfamilyhistory.com/2018/04/23/t-is-for-theresa/
Starting over must have been so difficult. I hope photos of the furniture have survived even if the desk and chair didn't.
DeleteThat table it a perfect size. I like things that are not perfect. My Dad made furniture for our house, I wonder what happened to it all? I think they got rid of it when they went in to the antique business.
ReplyDeleteMy A to Z Genealogy Challenges
That is where monetary value and sentimental value clash. There are things I hold onto for sentimental reasons and others that become a nuisance and are tossed. I wonder if my girls feel sentimental about anything in this house.
DeleteAwesome that is was made from scrap wood from their house! I’d love that scoop also!
ReplyDeleteAt one time I hung the scoop on the wall like a little shelf, but I much prefer it on the table.
DeleteWhat a special table in that it was handmade and has family memories. Love thinking of it as a perfect place for violets. Nice that you have a special place for it with other memorabilia and that it is being used...maybe a pot of silk violets are in order.
ReplyDeleteYou have inspired me - yes, I need some silk violets because I would definitely kill a real one.
DeleteBeautiful! As a mother to chickens, I'd love the chicken scoop. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI should have taken a better picture of that scoop. Barry's dad made it. The handle is the end of an old broom.
Delete