02 March 2020
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Heirloom research
Do you have a treasured item which has been passed down the generations and is part of family folklore? We show you how to find out more about it and pass this item down to the next generation.
An heirloom is an item which has been valued enough (either in monetary or personal terms) to be passed down several generations of the family. If you’re lucky enough to have inherited a family heirloom, read to find out how you can discover more about the item and its origins, and how to protect it for your descendants.
If you’re thinking that you don’t have any heirlooms in the family, be open-minded about what an heirloom is. It doesn’t have to be a valuable painting or vase (nice though these are to own), anything which past generations have valued enough to hand down the family can be classed as an heirloom.
Top tips for finding out about your heirloom
1 First steps
Take a close look at the item for clues such as a manufacturer’s mark, a date or trademark information, any of which could help you place the item both in terms of date and place of manufacture.
2 Enlist some help
Next, ask members of the extended family for their help – does anyone recall seeing the item in an ancestor’s home, and if so do they have any stories about its provenance or how it was used? Or maybe the item is mentioned in a will, which may provide further clues in terms of which branch of the family it came from, and who it originally belonged to.
3 Widen the net
Once you’ve exhausted the above options, you can widen the net by doing a little more research. A recent antique price guide such as Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide has lists of thousands of antiques, along with history, dates, identification tips and prices.
4 Ask the experts
Once you’ve exhausted the above options, you can widen the net by doing a little more research. A recent antique price guide such as Miller’s Antiques Handbook & Price Guide has lists of thousands of antiques, along with history, dates, identification tips and prices.
Keep an eye open for antique fairs in your area, as such events often have q&a sessions with antiques experts, or offer members of the public the chance to bring along a treasured item to be valued.
Don't miss Family Tree Live on 16 and 17 April as we launch the first Heirloom Experts sessions. Bring along your antiques and meet experts Catherine Southon and Stephanie Connell Art & Antiques, regulars on popular BBC show BBC Antiques Roadshow. Find out more here.