HEIRLOOMS BY CHLOE LOMAX
VOLUME 1 DAD’S
HEIRLOOMS Heirlooms, explores sentimental possessions through generations of family members. The unique aspects of every family, create different outlooks on the value of items, and what is important to them. Without family heirlooms, many physical and mental memories would be lost, as the items are kept to evoke old stories. What, and how much a family keeps depends on the dynamics of the family. Items such as newspaper cuttings, polaroid photographs, outfits and toys are all memorable items that family members classically keep. Traditionally, a couple would stay together, in one home for much of their lives. Having a settled home, meant many heirlooms could be preserved or used. In modern society, people commonly move between different settlements, and divorce rates are high. This causes heirlooms to be disposed of to make space, or lost in transition. When a family is separated due to circumstances such as divorce, the emotion towards an item can become negative, creating a more complex dynamic towards keeping the heirlooms. The different attitudes between families has a large impact on the disparity between types of heirlooms, as some may possess expensive dinner services or rings, whereas other families may value items such as memorabilia from holidays or a teddy that comforts them. Heirlooms are often left in cabinets on display, not being used, in fear of being damaged. It raises questions on sentimentality, compared with practicality. Is it worth keeping an expensive dinner service that will never be used, that will eventually end up in an antique shop? What do the newspaper cuttings mean to family members, four generations down the line when no one can recognise who is in the image? Through volume’s one and two, the photographs and accompanying text explore heirlooms between two sides of a family. Divorced parents, with very different family characteristics. The book presents ideals on why items are important, how items are kept and the variation that can be seen between one family, that has always had different outlooks on life. The text is presented in first person, as the family member who possesses the item has spoken directly to me about the heirloom. There are no names or labels attached to the speech, as the reader should interpret the text objectively. The text allows the reader to reflect on their own heirlooms, think of their own family members, and evoke memories.
TEA CUPS I like these cups. They’re every day cups. An cup that I’ve had a long time, that.. there’s nothing wrong with them. There’s no chips, there’s no cracks, they’re fine.
That was from your great-great-grandmother. They were with your great gran Lomax, and your grandad had them when she passed away. Then I had them when he did.
There was 2 cups. Pete and Steve went to Wales, they bought both of their grans one. When grandma Lomax died I got it. And when my mum died I got one. And I said to your mum, and to Wendy. Theres one each for you. So you can have your mums when I die. Shes not having it now.
DINNER SERVICE I always thought I would use it. I only use bits of it occasionally. I use the plates and that when everybody is here. I’ve got 42 plates. I’ve got eight dinner plates. Eight salad plates. Eight tea plates. Eight breakfast plates. Oh no, I’ve got more than that. I’ve got eight soup bowls, eight fruit dishes, eight cups and saucers, five serving dishes, fruit bowl. Pie plate, which is the first thing we ever bought when grandad gave you the money to buy a plate to put your fish bowl on. We went down in Worcester by the side of the river so we went in Royal Worcester and bought that. That’s what started me saving it. I’ve got eight ramekin dishes. Three soufflé dishes. 1 celery jar. Mint sauce boat. A gravy boat. A butter dish. A cream jug. Milk jug. And two sugar basins. Salt and pepper. Short bread dish. Six little ducks. 10pence each from when I went to Scotland 27 years ago. Meat plate. Bread and butter plate. The problem is, you can put everything in the dish washer today. But you can’t put that in the dishwasher because it’s got gold on it. This is all being saved for when the queen comes.
That was from your great-great-grandmother. They were with your great gran Lomax, and your grandad had them when she passed away. Then I had them when he did.
The blue plates were bought at auction by your great-grandad. They are two plates, that have been very very carefully repaired, with staples. But we don’t know whether theyre worth anything. I would love to know what they are.
OLD TOYS The advert used to be for Tonka toys: an elephant that would stand on them, and couldn’t break them. The mighty loader, the elephant would stand on it, they’re the indestructible toys.
I bought the building blocks for Uncle Pete for Christmas. But everyone played with them. I should think the writing would be Pete. Because you couldn’t spell could you. Bread was beard.
They were bought by your great grandad. But people used to borrow them to play bowls. Somebody started borrowing them all the time and wouldn’t bring them back. So we asked for them back and that’s why they’re sat in my garage. Your dad and pete would play in the garden with them when they were kids.
1972 fire engine that is. I looked it up this-morning. All bought in the 70’s as Christmas presents for steve. The difference between new car’s and my might loader is, that mine will last forever. I would prefer to play with a petrol one. But we didn’t have petrol cars. How would you describe your collection of Tonka toys? Lasting, Timeless.
ROYAL MEMORIES I think collecting royal things isn’t as common because its a digital age. You can see everything online now. There’s still a lot of royalists, but not as many as there used to be. Its classed more now as tat. You’d rather take a picture of something. We had to go get the film developed.
I collected that from the daily mail. I sent the tokens off. Same as the candle, and the glasses.
RINGS I feel that family rings are important because they are representative of your loved ones personality and taste, and they often symbolise gifts given between husband and wife. When the love ones are no longer here, have passed away they can be kept to remember the loved one and feel that you still have some part of them to remember them by.
I gave you the rings because I wanted them to be passed to my daughter for you to keep, and cherish through your life and I know that they meant a lot to you. I would like you to keep them because they symbolise when your mum and dad were married. And I know that means a lot
I bought this ring after my parents got divorced. My mum’s wedding rings had too many bad memories attached to them. But I wanted something to give to my children. So I designed a ring I liked, that I can be proud of.
I’ve got it because there was nowhere else for it but the bin. I keep it because it’s not something you can sell or bin but I don’t particularly want or need it either. It stays in a box with other things I don’t want to get rid of like Grandad’s prayer book.
Wedding ring of your great great grandma. Its 22ct gold. 1879.
PRECIOUS MEMORIES I think when you look at, someone from the outside. Looking at what you’ve saved, it’s a sense of loyalty and family that runs straight through everything. Its massive family sense of loyalty. I wouldn’t just throw anything away. Its an era that’s gone, because we just don’t do it. We now live in a minimalistic society, you do not keep cards or paper clippings.
The horse came from Brudley Brass Foundry, when your dad was working there for five months after he left school, before he went in the navy. 1984. And I saw a picture of it in the paper, they were doing an article on the Brass foundry, and I said I liked it. At Christmas, he brought it home. I had to go and get it on my bike, have you felt how heavy it is?
Grandad loved collecting beer mats. When he found one he liked, he would try to get the whole collection. Most of the mats we have now are full collections. I guess I’ll have to find someone that likes beer mats to give them too now.
We went on holiday, Rill, North Wales. It was me, and your grandad, and great grandad, and peter and Stephen. And one day, they had been out with their grandad. They were always on at him about the pipe, if they could have a q. So, they came back with a clay pipe each, and some cherry tobacco. And that’s when the pipes started. Dad was about five, and Pete was about nine. It’s only fruit tobacco he’d say.