HEIRLOOMS
HEIRLOOMS The heirlooms project concentrates on what heirlooms were, and what they now are. Through the objects that have been photographed, it explores heirlooms through generations of family members. It suggests how families used to be, in comparison to the modern day families, and how we value things in our ever evolving society. Newspaper cuttings, Polaroid photographs, outfits, toys, are all memorable items that families like to keep. Newspaper cuttings can present a moment in time, a special day when something happened. Outfits and toys are kept, as if they are disposed of, there would be little documentation or memories of them ever existing. Without photographs, you wouldn’t remember what you wore to that wedding, or your favourite toy. Polaroid photographs are kept, as they are the original document of a moment. If the polaroid was lost or not developed, the photograph would never be. It can be argued that how much a family keeps depends on the dynamics of the family. Traditionally, a family would stay in one home for the majority of their lives, which creates space for keeping items. Parents would stay together, keeping items in one place. In modern society, moving from flat to flat, different partners and step parents, causes heirlooms to be lost. When moving, we throw away memories just to make space, without thinking about the sentimentality behind it. We can take a photograph of it on our mobile phones, and that is the memory stored. When a family divides due to circumstances such as divorce, the items can loose their meaning or become lost in the departure from a family home. Heirlooms are often left in cupboards or on display, not used in fear of being damaged. It raises questions on sentimentality, compared with practicality. Is it worth keeping dinner services that will never be used, and eventually end up in an antique shop or being donated. What do the newspaper cuttings mean, 4 generations down the line when no one recognises, or knows who the family member is. Through the book, the images explore how different family members view and keep items in different ways. What they store, and what is sentimental to them.
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 8 dinner plates. 8 salad plates. 8 tea plates. 8 breakfast plates. Oh no, I’ve got more than that. I’ve got 8 soup bowls, 8 fruit dishes, 8 cups and saucers, 5 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 8 ramekin dishes. 3 soufflé dishes. 1 celery jar. Mint sauce boat. A gravy boat. A butter dish. A cream jug. Milk jug. And 2 sugar basins. Salt and pepper. Short bread dish. 6 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 to you.
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.
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 Foundary, when your dad was working there for 5 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 founary, 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 smoke. So, they came back with a clay pipe each, and some cherry tobacco. And that’s when the pipes started. Dad was about 5, and Pete was about 9. Its only fruit tobacco he’d say.