katemary63 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 (edited) My mom gave me her wedding china years ago. It's Noritake. I don't like it. It's in a box in a storage garage 20 minutes from my house. Can I sell it? Yes, she's still alive, but she certainly knows I don't use it. Ever. My house is tiny and we never have fancy company. It has been in the same box for over 30 years. (edited to ad: my parent's are divorced. It was bitter and my dad is a horrible person, so nothing from their wedding has sentimental value for anyone. It's just that my mom has had it for 50 years!) I also have my Grandma's china. I have no idea what it is. It is also in the storage garage. She collected it as a young woman using stamps from her grociery store. There are a million pieces. It's got to be 80 years old. Can I sell this? None of my children will ever use it. It is silver and violet flowers on white. Very pretty actually, but what do you do with it? My kids have never even seen it. Grandma is long passed. I've just always thought I had to keep these things and pass them on. But...I guess I don't, right?! Edited January 27, 2011 by katemary63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mejane Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I don't think we need to keep things like that. Have you looked into a local antique or consignment shop? You could try ebay, but they seem to be inundated with things like that lately. I think everyone is selling to make some money. We don't have china (thank goodness!), but I have my mom's silverware. I plan to keep it because it's only a small chest. ( I'll unload it on my dd someday. ;)) I also have my grandmother's silver-plate - lots of platters, bowls, etc. I hate it (it's very ornate), never use it, and have found it's not really valuable. I just haven't gotten around to boxing it up and dropping it somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Is there anyone else in your family who would like it? Siblings? Cousins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcyB Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I'd definitely ask family if they want it, or pass it on to your children who've already gone on if they'd like to have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 My Mom sold her own china years ago....... I have some of my own Lenox Charleston that I want to sell.... and will someday. Sell it! Be done with it. Move on with life.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 A gift with strings is not a gift. If she gave it to you, then you are free to do with it whatever you choose. That said, I agree with the pp and ask family if they'd like it. If not I'd sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistoryMom Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Go for it. It clearly doesn't have meaning to your mother, or to you. I have my MIL's wedding china, but we use it daily. Replacements Ltd. is a huge buyer/seller of china. http://replacementsltd.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Sell it! Be done with it. Move on with life.............. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I inherited my MILs china recently, and my 11 yr old asked if we could use the tea cups and teapot on her next b'day. Of course I said yes. Both of my dds have asked if they could have it when they are older. lol I told them they might have to take turns each year if they are both still interested when the time comes. My mother had some glassware of my grandmother's that she didn't care for but I liked, so asking around might me a good idea. Others may have more of a connection to certain things. In my family, it's obviously dishes. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Just a little plug here though - why not use it? I have inherited a TON of china from Dh's family and it is almost to the point of the ridiculous how much I have. So, I use it - a lot. If we're having a baby shower, I volunteer my china. If we're having a coffee meeting, I volunteer my china. I hope none of it breaks, but if it does at least it was being used and enjoyed. We had a wedding closet at our old church where people could donate fancy dishes, tableclothes etc. to be used for receptions, showers, funerals, etc. Maybe you could start something like that? China is ever so much nicer than paper plates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 (edited) That's true, too. I used my 'good china' every day, and even for breakfast. My kids eat toast off Wedgwood (although its not the very fancy stuff, granted.) :D Edited January 27, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetTN Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 We don't have china (thank goodness!), but I have my mom's silverware. I plan to keep it because it's only a small chest. ( I'll unload it on my dd someday. ;)) :lol::lol: This is just what I did! China and silverware all went to our dd. She loves us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I've just always thought I had to keep these things and pass them on. But...I guess I don't, right?! No, you don't. And you shouldn't feel guilty (not saying you do, but just in case) for getting rid of it. I always offer family stuff to a family member first. I've even asked younger family members if they think they'll want it someday. If no one shows an interest, I go ahead and get rid of it. The way I look at it is that someone else would be happy to have it, and you at least get a little money out of it. Win-win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I also have my Grandma's china. I have no idea what it is. It is also in the storage garage. She collected it as a young woman using stamps from her grociery store. There are a million pieces. It's got to be 80 years old. Can I sell this? None of my children will ever use it. It is silver and violet flowers on white. Very pretty actually, but what do you do with it? My kids have never even seen it. Grandma is long passed. Sounds like mine. Not dishwasher safe but I like it. Did you notice that the dinner plates are considerably smaller than today's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Did you notice that the dinner plates are considerably smaller than today's? I read that somewhere not long ago. It's one of the things that encourages us to eat more. We fill a plate, regardless of the size. Bigger plate, bigger portion, without us even realizing it most of the time. Hmmm. There's a diet idea - Use Grandma's china to lose weight. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 please dig it out and at least look at it with your girls before you decide. My grandmother died when I was 10. My kids (obviously) never met her, but they love my memories and her china, because we think of her when we use it. You may have one child who will want to reconnect with her long gone relatives through it....sounds silly when I type it out, but that is just the way it is round here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 My Mom sold her own china years ago....... I have some of my own Lenox Charleston that I want to sell.... and will someday. Sell it! Be done with it. Move on with life.............. :iagree: If you don't love and use it regularly, check around the family and see who might want it and if no takers, sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Dh and I are both only children. We inheirited both sets of China. Works out well, since we have 2 girls. It's in the top of one of our kitchen cabinets, but really never used. They'll get their heirloom china someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Why not just ask your mom how she feels about it? She will probably be glad to see you get some money for it, since you're not using it, anyway. I wouldn't give it away to a family member, because you'll probably just find out later that they sold it and bought something great with the money. :glare: Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I received my MIL's china when I got married (she had passed away a few years before) and I got my own china. I mentioned selling MIL's china and my FIL went ballistic. He doesn't want it...just couldn't believe I wanted to sell it. So it sits in a box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homemama2 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Just a little plug here though - why not use it? :iagree: Esp. your Grandma's if it's pretty. I decided to just use the china I got for my wedding. We rarely have company, and when we do they almost always have little kids...so I don't want to use it then. But I do use it for Dh and I all the time. I have boys, so I doubt they'll want it some day. If you don't have room for it, or the desire to use it....I'd sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 make sure no family wants it first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 One thing -- if you're going to use it, make sure the glazes aren't filled with lead or cadmium. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 make sure no family wants it first. This. By the time my grandma died, I already had a house and a couple kids. Nobody asked me if I wanted any of grandma's things. My siblings, who were all setting up new houses by then, all got things like her gorgeous sleigh beds and dressers. I got NOTHING! Seriously, I would LOVE her china. Something. Anything, really. I grew up in a house where I knew where each piece of furniture came from - great, great grandpa MADE this. And, this piece was great grandma's! My current house has NONE of that. It makes me sad. But, I don't want to complain to my mom and dad because I don't want to seem like the jerk who didn't get the STUFF after a funeral. Really, it's not about that. I LOVE family history. Definitely offer it to your kids first. You may be surprised. Dh and I have china for every day and china for Christmas. We use it a LOT! I hope that my kids will have wonderful memories surrounding those pieces and want them in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Are you sure your kids won't want the china? I'd hold on to both sets, assuming they will want it someday, despite what they say now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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