6 Family Heirlooms You'll Regret Throwing Away, According to a Professional Thrift Shopper

Cleaning out an estate is a lot of work, both mentally and physically, and at the end of the day, when you're absolutely wiped, it's easy not to see the value in certain items. I get it, I've been there.

A few years ago, I helped my parents downsize, and it was exhausting. On the last day, I (someone who can find value in absolutely everything) stumbled upon every last negative and hand-printed photo I’d ever created and ended up tossing everything. It was one of the last few boxes we were sorting, and I just wanted to be done. At the time, these things seemed worthless, but now I’m absolutely kicking myself for not taking the time to at least digitally archive them.

Now I recommend always thinking twice before tossing out the following heirlooms; you never know what they might mean to you later or to the generations that come after you. 

Photos, Videos, Journals, and Scrapbooks

While old photos, journals, handwritten notes, and other personal archives may not mean much to you at the time, check with family members to see if anyone wants to be the keeper of memories. If you’re able, send your items to a digital archivist who can scan everything and make it available to your entire family with a single click. This is an investment you'll never regret, and future generations will thank you.

If you have these items digitized and no one in the family wants the hard copies, check with artists to see if they might be interested. Vintage photographs and very old paper ephemera are highly valued in collage and scrapbooking communities. 

Jewelry and Accessories

While your great aunt's style may not be yours, don’t rush to sell the contents of her jewelry boxes. Antique diamonds (especially pre-1920s diamonds) hold value regardless of the setting, are likely hand-cut, and are a more sustainable and ethical choice than many modern diamonds sold today. You always have the option of changing the setting and passing the pieces on to future generations, providing them with a valuable and historically significant piece they couldn’t buy in a shop.

Vintage costume jewelry and handbags also hold surprising value and are a delight to pass down. Keep an eye out for luxury handbag brands such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, and Schiaparelli. As for costume jewelry, bakelite bangles and brooches can be extremely valuable if the design is rare. Pieces by Schreiner, Eisenberg, Coro, Weiss, and Miriam Haskell are fantastic vintage brands to keep and pass down. 

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Recipe Boxes

There’s nothing quite like pulling out a favorite recipe card from a loved one who has passed and connecting with them through food. As an extra special touch, you can create an heirloom by transferring their handwritten recipe onto a pie plate or other item to display in your home. This makes a wonderful gift for family members. 

Pots and Pans

Even if you already have enough cookware, it's worth holding onto heirloom pots and pans passed down to you. Brands like Mauviel, De Buyer, and Matfer Bourgeat will last for generations and would cost a fortune to replace. More modern vintage cookware from Dansk, Catherineholm, and Le Creuset should also be kept and displayed like the works of art they are. 

Sentimental Items

Things like grandma's wooden spoon, the can of WD-40 your dad used on everything, or an aunt's favorite tube of lipstick—these things are priceless when you're really missing that person. While it might seem silly to keep them because they will eventually end up in a storage box, they can be brought to life in other ways.

There are companies like The Heirloomist that will photograph well-loved items sent in from families as pieces of high-end art to be displayed in their homes. One of my favorite photographs is of a foam cup with the name "Gram" written on it. The family shared that their Gram loved drinking sweet tea out of foam cups, and they saved her last cup to be memorialized in a beautiful photo the entire family could share. 

Clothing

As with jewelry and accessories, luxury clothing brands can actually increase in value, and it's extremely likely there's a posh cousin somewhere down the line who would be over the moon to inherit these pieces. In addition to luxury pieces, consider hanging on to significant clothing items, such as wedding dresses or baptism gowns. Even a beloved pair of work overalls can find their way to a nostalgic relative. If the clothing items are too fragile to be worn, frame shops can work wonders, displaying them in shadow boxes as art pieces to be hung in your home.