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

[Anonymous]

Mom (widow) died a few weeks ago and I finally finished cleaning out her place. A lot of things are temporarily stored in boxes in my garage. I donated a lot of stuff, kept the better furniture like Ethan Allen, to give to kids etc. The problem is I have boxes and boxes of Wedgewood jasperware and Waterford crystal (made in Ireland, pre-2000). The Wedgewood jasperware while pretty is not very functional. I have tried to give away the crystal and Wedgewood to family members, both close and extended. Even offered to a few close friends. There is very little interest. Not that I blame them. After all I'm trying to offer it to them too. My daughter took one pair of candlesticks. I took one pair too, plus a tray for jewelry. But I'm still left with boxes. I guess I'll use the vases. But even the large jasperware wedgwood platters are not for practical use. Family member suggested that I donate to thrift store. If it were cheaper Czech crystal etc., I wouldn't hesitate. But this collection has been built up by my mother for 50 years and us not cheap. But how many crystal candlesticks does one need? I am a gen x and just never collected these things like my mother's generation. Thoughts?? And yes I feel a little guilt bc I don't love the idea of all this extra stuff to store, sintain and clean. While I am not a minimalist, I do like minimal clutter and don't care to collect stuff unless I can actually use it.

I know I must not be the only one inheriting a boatload of fine crystal and China. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Can you hold on to it for a while? It really does sound nice, and maybe the right recipient will show up. Another option might be a local charity sale (our school does one). Or if you post on Craigslist, someone who intends to resell it will probably buy it from you. I’d check the resale value on Ebay and Replacements.com, then offer maybe 20% of that OBO.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Thank you! I am not OP but am dealing with my mothers huge collections. She sure loved to find treasures and had a blast doing it. This helps relieve some guilt.

[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.

This is terrific advice.

[Anonymous]

Agree that you should try eBay. There are also high-end thrift stores that may give you a decent amount for them. Sounds like a beautiful collection, I’m sorry for your loss.

[Anonymous]

Contact a couple of auction houses and see if any of them are interested. Some do thematic auctions and might be having a "Classic tableware" event coming up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is terrific advice.

Another vote for this post. Don't be afraid to donate. You could even find a thrift shop that raised money for a cause like a children's hospital or not. There is someone out there who cannot afford these items new, who will cherish them at a bargain price.

Yes, re: furniture and I love Ethan Allen. Be sure to ask your kids if they want it now and even if they want it in the future. If the answer is no to both donate unless you want it. My mother has saved all sorts of stuff that was passed down for us without asking if we wanted it. We don't. She is so angry and resentful we don't appreciate it.She never once asked if we wanted it. It is the stuff that peole showed off in the 50s and 60s, but few people want these days.We are not into stuff and we don't live in a big showy house.

Also you need to think of what it does to you have all this stuff stored in your house. What will it cost to move it if they want it. How will you feel if they only like it for a few years and then donate it?

The stuff isn't the people. Giving away mom's stuff is not giving away the beautiful memories. Those last forever with you.

[Anonymous]

Re:ebay. Don't look on ebay and assume your stuff is worth that much.There are delusional people on ebay listing stuff at exorbitant prices. Often within a year they start decreasing until they finally sell it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Contact a couple of auction houses and see if any of them are interested. Some do thematic auctions and might be having a "Classic tableware" event coming up

+1. If you don't want to deal with Ebay (shipping all those breakables would be nerve-racking and you'll need to buy shipping supplies. Weschler's in Rockville has weekly online auctions that are advertised nationally. You are going to pay way higher fees than Ebay, but, you just take your stuff there and they do the photographing, pricing, and shipping (or deal with local pickup). The china may or may not be worth selling at auction, but the jasper ware and Waterford should sell easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you hold on to it for a while? It really does sound nice, and maybe the right recipient will show up. Another option might be a local charity sale (our school does one). Or if you post on Craigslist, someone who intends to resell it will probably buy it from you. I’d check the resale value on Ebay and Replacements.com, then offer maybe 20% of that OBO.

The problem with replacements is that you have to ship it to them and they have a minimum amount. I'd look at a local auction place before I'd deal with replacements (unless you have hundreds of pieces and want to drive it down there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Contact a couple of auction houses and see if any of them are interested. Some do thematic auctions and might be having a "Classic tableware" event coming up

+1. If you don't want to deal with Ebay (shipping all those breakables would be nerve-racking and you'll need to buy shipping supplies. Weschler's in Rockville has weekly online auctions that are advertised nationally. You are going to pay way higher fees than Ebay, but, you just take your stuff there and they do the photographing, pricing, and shipping (or deal with local pickup). The china may or may not be worth selling at auction, but the jasper ware and Waterford should sell easily.

Thanks so much to everyone!! OP here. Never heard of Weschlers. I definitely don't want to deal with ebay.

[Anonymous]

You could drive it to replacements ltd in NC and see what they would buy. Unfortunately, you get people don’t want this. My great-grandparents had three different sets of China and Crystal for 24. My mom has held onto it. No one wants it.

[Anonymous]

My mother kept a set of Lenox china her aunt had collected over the years because it was pretty and it cost a lot (at the time).

When she downsized, she had no room for it. My research found absolutely no one wants gold-rimmed (has to be hand washed) dishware with flowers on it anymore.

I told her to choose one or two pieces to remember her aunt by and toss the rest.

[Anonymous]

I have a set of Waterford crystal glasses - 8-12 of 4 different sizes, plus some accessories. Most of it from the 80s (you can feel the difference in weight between older and newer pieces). I loved it in the 80s, maybe even into the 2010s. But I am done with it and have replaced them with a more modern look. So don’t feel guilty. As a PP said it served a purpose and was well used. Not sure what I will do with it but don’t feel like I need money for it so will probably it give it away.