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

[Anonymous]

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

[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

Auction houses typically don't want this stuff either. You would probably pay an auction house to take it.

Auction houses have this stuff to sell when they are contracted by an estate lawyer to move the contents of the entire house.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Waterford&sort=-relevance&status=online

[Anonymous]

I had my mom's and both grandmother's crystal and china to deal with. What I keep was one set of "fine china" which we never use and I wish I didn't have. I kept a large number of old Waterford goblets, claret and white Wine glasses (which are crazy small). I love the Waterford. The rest I sold at the estate sale I held through a broker when my mom passed away. I have no space to store any of it. There is essentially no resale value except for a few collectors who love that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a lot of old china that I've been holding onto. I'll look into replacements.com. I hadn't thought of selling it. I assume my kids will want it, but I doubt it. Some of it is more than 100 years old and incredibly beautiful, gold-rimmed, green and blue (no flowers), in full 12-place setting sets. I've thought of hanging some of it on the wall in a pattern, it's that lovely. I think it belongs in a museum, actually. All made in England at least 100 years ago (my grandmother was married in 1911). I also have two sets of silverware that I don't use either, and a lot of silver bowls, etc. all sterling. I suppose I could sell it by weight (sterling is worth a decent price nowadays), but it's pretty too. I imagine fashions will change and some people will want these things.
OP, sorry, just ruminating here. I think you should try replacements.com or hang onto it if you have the space. Your feelings and your kids' feelings about it might change. I've given things away in a rush of emotion that I later regret parting with. Wait a year, and see if you feel the same way. If so, keep a few precious pieces, and sell the rest.

I don't agree with this advice unless you have endless storage space.What have you give away that you have regretted? Sure take some time with it, but not years, maybe weeks or months. Nobody has time to wash this stuff these days and who knows how toxic it is. There is hopefully some family in need that will be thrilled to enjoy such beautiful things. Why not bring them joy now or soon? I let so many years go by afraid to give away stuff I don't want and never wanted. Sure if you will use it, keep it. If your kid begs you to keep it until she/he is married and you have the space, then go ahead. Otherwise, release it to someone who can appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I agree with posters that the old waterford and jasperware wedgwood doesn't have significant value. I just shudder to think of what my mother paid gladly for this stuff and what it is worth in today's market. I am a very practical person and I do believe in using things and not saving things for special occasions. The waterford goblets I'll use daily. Years ago I inherited a relatives 80 year old French linen napkins, set of 12. I used them daily for years, threw them in the wash constantly and turned them to cleaning rags when after years if my use, they got stained. (We use cloth napkins daily but my usual choice is a wrinkle free cotton synthetic blend that I bleach). My mother was horrified when she saw me using then at dinner. But frankly begore they came into my possession they were stored away in a drawer for 50 years, for special occasions that never came...even though there were plenty of special occasions.

God knows what I'm going to do with 24 pairs if waterford candlesticks. The jasperware wedgwood is problematic though for me. Bc it's unglazed you really can't use it. It's more just for show. Seems like such a waste.

Getting rid of stuff....yes if course if I got more for it I wouldn't feel so bad selling. It's not really about the money. It's more about how little demand there is. Times change I guess.

[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.

+1 I would never just give away vintage Waterford crystal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree with posters that the old waterford and jasperware wedgwood doesn't have significant value. I just shudder to think of what my mother paid gladly for this stuff and what it is worth in today's market. I am a very practical person and I do believe in using things and not saving things for special occasions. The waterford goblets I'll use daily. Years ago I inherited a relatives 80 year old French linen napkins, set of 12. I used them daily for years, threw them in the wash constantly and turned them to cleaning rags when after years if my use, they got stained. (We use cloth napkins daily but my usual choice is a wrinkle free cotton synthetic blend that I bleach). My mother was horrified when she saw me using then at dinner. But frankly begore they came into my possession they were stored away in a drawer for 50 years, for special occasions that never came...even though there were plenty of special occasions.

God knows what I'm going to do with 24 pairs if waterford candlesticks. The jasperware wedgwood is problematic though for me. Bc it's unglazed you really can't use it. It's more just for show. Seems like such a waste.

Getting rid of stuff....yes if course if I got more for it I wouldn't feel so bad selling. It's not really about the money. It's more about how little demand there is. Times change I guess.

The Waterford candlesticks can be beautiful when grouped together. Personally, I would keep most of them, if not all. The Wedgwood I can understand is just for display. I would check with Replacements or try to sell on Etsy, Ebay, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

You might consider hanging on to it. The modern look" might look quite dated to a lot of people in a decade or two. It's always hard to tell whether high-quality items like the older Waterford will become sought after in the coming decades. I agree, though, that the OP's china is probably close to worthless. The same goes for most older sterling silver tableware.

+1 definitely, if not purchased recently at Bed Bath and Beyond or Macy's. There's a difference!

[Anonymous]

Also remember if you use Ebay to try and see what a reasonable price for an item is, the best option is to select "Sold" in the search. It's on the left side of options when you search for items.

[Anonymous]

Put it on FB marketplace inexpensively.

I search weekly for additions to my current collection (I host weekly at least). I would love to snag some China in my pattern and it would be well-used! There are plenty of others like me out there that would treasure them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree with posters that the old waterford and jasperware wedgwood doesn't have significant value. I just shudder to think of what my mother paid gladly for this stuff and what it is worth in today's market. I am a very practical person and I do believe in using things and not saving things for special occasions. The waterford goblets I'll use daily. Years ago I inherited a relatives 80 year old French linen napkins, set of 12. I used them daily for years, threw them in the wash constantly and turned them to cleaning rags when after years if my use, they got stained. (We use cloth napkins daily but my usual choice is a wrinkle free cotton synthetic blend that I bleach). My mother was horrified when she saw me using then at dinner. But frankly begore they came into my possession they were stored away in a drawer for 50 years, for special occasions that never came...even though there were plenty of special occasions.

God knows what I'm going to do with 24 pairs if waterford candlesticks. The jasperware wedgwood is problematic though for me. Bc it's unglazed you really can't use it. It's more just for show. Seems like such a waste.

Getting rid of stuff....yes if course if I got more for it I wouldn't feel so bad selling. It's not really about the money. It's more about how little demand there is. Times change I guess.

There are many collectors of jasper ware and Waterford. A pair of vintage Waterford candlesticks could fetch $100 or more on Ebay. You have 24? That is $2400. I'd take a few pictures and list it on Facebook marketplace. My guess is that a dealer / reseller would be willing to buy it all as a lot.

[Anonymous]

There is a ton of china and crystal at my local thrift shop. It is priced well and it still sits. The market is just gone.

Can you offer some of it up on a Buy Nothing group? Post about how it was important to your mother. You might find a taker who is delighted to have it. I noticed someone posted several sets of china recently and there were older women (who probably couldn't afford china or wouldn't buy it) who were over the moon delighted to have it. That might make you feel good, to know someone who appreciates it is getting it.

[Anonymous]

It might be nice to find some organizations that help resettle refugees. After everything they’ve been through they would probably appreciate some fancy stuff!

[Anonymous]

There's a Facebook group for everything. Here is just one of 3 wedgewood jasper collectors groups https://www.facebook.com/groups/447014675501162

There are also Lenox groups, Waterford crystal groups etc

Just post in those buy/sell groups and perhaps someone local will come by the lot so you don't have to deal with shipping (unless the buyer wants to pay for shipping)

I'm in the process of doing this with my mom's collectibles (though she is still alive, just downsizing).

[Anonymous]

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