Cleaned out mom's home...what to do with all the crystal and china??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, we've had similar issues with moving my mom out of her 4 bedroom/3 car garage house where she had room to collect (and collect, and collect) stuff for decades. An auction house came to collect anything they thought was of value (including an antique but busted wooden canoe!) but nobody -- including Goodwill -- wanted the fine china. We certainly don't want it. DH and I have our own set that we registered for and only haul out 1-2 times a year, and now I feel like I could have made better use of that money! But times and tastes change.

We worked with a senior move manager to move my mom out, and although unfortunately my mom didn't take all her advice and held on to a bunch of stuff she will have no room for in her 1 BR apartment, the piece of good advice I took away was -- take photographs of the stuff you're getting rid of. That way you can still enjoy the sentiment around the collection without actually having your garage filled to the brim. For those whose parents are facing issues similar to my mom's (downsizing), and who don't want to let go of their collections, the photos can be turned into a printed album or framed posters/pictures to decorate their walls.

Also take pictures of the interiors and exteriors of houses and rooms. I’m going through family photos and wishing I knew what people’s houses and apartments were like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you try to sell it?

Read the thread.

The demand is very low and the hassle isn't worth it most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Donate it to the thrift store. Someone out there may want it. Don't store it. Later you will have to deal with it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had a glass of wine in Grandmother's former Waterford last night. All of this stuff is meant to be used.

You should tested for lead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I donate a lot of things. I consider it my main act of charity. Nice things. I send them off with a hope and a prayer that they will find a new owner, bring joy to a new owner.

I think the overall issue of: control and maximizing outcomes, gets in the way for many people. I didn't do all this donating when I was younger and financially strapped.

For me it’s the emotional connection - my mom loved her china. If some random stranger left me china in their will, I’d donate it to Goodwill without a second thought.

That's a slippery slope to Hoarderville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you try to sell it?

At what price point, when divided out on the time you spend to prepare things, would it no longer be worth it?

$1/hr? $2? $5?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just had a glass of wine in Grandmother's former Waterford last night. All of this stuff is meant to be used.

You should tested for lead.

Consider that the obsessive focus here might not be warranted.

[Anonymous]

I find it kind of funny that the youngsters are so in favor of reduced consumption but not if it means using old lady China and Crystal. Use it for every day! Who cares if the gold trim will come off in the dishwasher (it’s actually more sturdy that you’d think)? Even if some of it breaks, it’s better than tossing it all. I only have Crystal wine glasses. I got them as a present and I see no point in buying new wine glasses so the Crystal ones can sit in a cupboard. Just use stuff.
If it’s small size jasperware, tween girls love that stuff to put makeup and jewelry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I donate a lot of things. I consider it my main act of charity. Nice things. I send them off with a hope and a prayer that they will find a new owner, bring joy to a new owner.

I think the overall issue of: control and maximizing outcomes, gets in the way for many people. I didn't do all this donating when I was younger and financially strapped.

For me it’s the emotional connection - my mom loved her china. If some random stranger left me china in their will, I’d donate it to Goodwill without a second thought.

That's a slippery slope to Hoarderville.

I know, I know. Mom was a hoarder herself. I’ll feel bad no matter what I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you try to sell it?

At what price point, when divided out on the time you spend to prepare things, would it no longer be worth it?

$1/hr? $2? $5?

So much depends on the pattern. My mother's is unappealing to anyone, including her children (it's a discontinued pattern from the 50s, and current worship of all things MCM does not extend to china patterns). But if you have Royal Copenhagen blue lace, it will be snapped up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a few.

These things were collected by your mother for her to enjoy. They did it! They did their job, so wonderfully. You have fond feelings for them because of that, but the dishes themselves are not her legacy. Her legacy is the joy and fun she found in collecting it and using it to host and celebrate her family and friends. The objects themselves are now severed from that legacy. You don’t have to keep them to keep the memory. I think keeping one or two pieces as a reminder is just right.

Their “value” isn’t that important. Remember that the price she paid isn’t necessarily relevant to the price they would cost now, and the prices you look up on eBay or whatever are retail prices. As a non-dealer, you should expect 25% of that or less unless you want to start a new job as a dealer and learn it from the bottom. Donating it is probably much easier and won’t “cost” you very much.

Re: the furniture. It’s very difficult to know what kind of spaces young adults will end up in and what will fit. It’s also very expensive to move furniture. I would keep anything a young adult wants NOW but let go of the rest and free your garage.

+1 I'm about to go clear out my mother's house for sale. This really helps me be at peace with not keeping too much. Sometimes DCUM can really be a kind place.

[Anonymous]

I have six complete sets of China. I love all of them. I inherited five. One is my wedding China. I use all of it. I don’t keep it stored for special occasions. We use it and enjoy it. Life is a special occasion.

[Anonymous]

Set everything that matches as a set for a fairly low price, $100 or lower. People who want china and glassware will buy it.

Or donate fewer pieces or small pieces to a thrift store.

I collect a certain brand of china and it's amazing how much people want to charge per piece for used china. Or hundreds of dollars per set.

If the object is to get rid of it and have someone else use it, donate it or sell it at a low reasonable price for someone who is willing to buy used hand wash only china or glassware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it kind of funny that the youngsters are so in favor of reduced consumption but not if it means using old lady China and Crystal. Use it for every day! Who cares if the gold trim will come off in the dishwasher (it’s actually more sturdy that you’d think)? Even if some of it breaks, it’s better than tossing it all. I only have Crystal wine glasses. I got them as a present and I see no point in buying new wine glasses so the Crystal ones can sit in a cupboard. Just use stuff.
If it’s small size jasperware, tween girls love that stuff to put makeup and jewelry on.

I’m a millennial and the dishware we have has lasted us for years. I just hate clutter and having stuff for the sake of having stuff. I even dislike jewelry. My mom has several pieces of gaudy gold jewelry she’s been wanting me to get from her and I’m like no. I tell DH he’s so lucky I’m a woman who is also a minimalist. I spend my money on farm fresh produce, our bills, personal training sessions, and personal grooming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever was the appeal of crystal and china? I don't understand it.

I'm not trying to be snarky. I love decorating a beautiful table for different occasions, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the beautifil crystal, china and silver from different family members. It is very sentimental to me and makes for very special times with my family and friends.

This still doesn’t make any sense.