What’s the oldest thing you own? I posted a story a week ago on instagram, and it received some interesting responses.
I have my grandmother’s old watch that I wore in our wedding… it was tucked away in my dress. It probably dates back to the early 1920’s. She received it for Christmas one year. I was all about something old something new… I even had a six pence in my shoe. YOLO, y’all. Yolo.
And I have an old piece of furniture here and there but I’m pretty sure they’re not that old. Or a book or two. I should literally get them all out and see what the oldest one dates back to since I have a penchant for old books. Some of you said books on instagram and it got my wheels turning. But I really had to stop and think about it.
You guys gave some brilliant responses from an old piece of furniture that still has the original note underneath circa 1916, to a snakeskin in someone’s basement. –That one made us laugh. Handwritten recipes passed down now hanging on the kitchen wall {LOVE} and heirlooms from family.
Here’s one of my favorite pieces that’s been stashed away in our storage for a while, and once upon a time, resided in our bathroom. It was given to me years ago by a dear friend when we were just out of college. I had zero funds to decorate with at the time, and immediately took the mauve and country blue frame, {totally framed in the 80’s} and gave it a fresh coat of black. Then it was in our bathroom for a while until stashed away in storage after the move.
As you can see, it dates back to 1923, and I love that the cover of Vogue from 1923 was 35 cents once upon a time. Say what? They slay with their prices these days and godforbidyouloseyourmind and buy two at the airport. The ad on the back is just as amazing and I was interested in a simple new home for this one in our addition.
So I scooped up a frame at Target the other afternoon and loved the way it looked. I especially love that it’s a fun convo piece, and you can flip it over to see the back, too. No longer hidden.
So I’ve been gathering up pieces here and there since we’re waiting around for a few things with the addition {oh the joys of living in Nashville – it gives me plenty of time to think about the accents I want to bring in, in between client work} and I’d forgotten I was also saving this photo.
It once resided above the oh-so-charming mantel in our great room before the redo. We’d kindly asked the old owner to leave it behind, and we were thrilled to have it. It sat in the basement until we took on that rehab and by then it was so dusty, I didn’t realize until recently, when I removed the photo from its old frame, that this photo taken in 2006 shows the old owners swimming in their pool. So funny!
{Affiliate links- I found these awesome frames here + here by the way!}
Such easy simple finds with awesome character. Oh! And you can purchase our painting here.
This is the first time since I was a young child, that I’ve lived in an older house. You guys all know it’s been quite the adventure, but I am a little obsessed with knowing more about it. So my neighbor sent me an aerial view that I’ve shown on social media a few times, but I figured they’d found it locally. Little did I know that it’s from a website… when I asked her, I was thrilled to track it down. We found it here.
So naturally, I had to have a copy of the house, with this copy to frame in the new addition. And since our neighbor shared it, I thought you guys may want to look for your houses, too. Just a little tool to check out. #TOTALLYnotsponsored
Anyway, stay tuned to see what we do! We can’t wait to share with you!
So continuing the convo, what’s the oldest thing you own? AND did you find your house on the site or do you have one somewhere?! We want to see!
Leave a link below.
Have an inspired day!
carolyn says
I believe the oldest thing I own is a Wheeler-White treadle sewing machine dated 1898. I also have a copy of The Bobbsey Twins dated 1904 that was my mother’s. I love them both! I looked for every house I’ve ever lived in as well as my grandmother’s house and none of them were on there! Tomorrow we go to closing on a 1927 Craftsman style bungalow and I can’t wait to live there…we’re downsizing and moving closer to two of our grown children and our granddaughter. A new phase in our life that I’m very ready to start!!!
Elisa Jenkins says
Absolutely LOVE that Vogue! What a lovely accent for your home. It got me to thinking about several of the family pieces I am the custodian of. The oldest has to be my great-grandmother’s woven coverlet. She was born in the late 1870’s. The coverlet was made by two of her aunts before she was born. They made it literally from scratch. They grew the cotton, spun the thread, and then wove it themselves. It is one of my most treasured possessions. One day I will pass it on to one of my nieces to care for another generation.
Anna says
This is amazing!
Cici Haus says
I have a dictionary from 1888. Best part? I got it at a flea market when I was 7 or 8. My mom gave me $2 to buy anything I wanted. I looked at several toys, but chose a really old book instead. Future vintage lover đ
ashley @ the handmade home says
This is amazing. Would you be my dream child? Yes. Yes you would. đ
kddomingue says
I think the oldest item in my home would be the iron bedstead that belonged to my husband’s paternal greatgrandparents. His grandfather was born in that bed….well, not the same mattress, lol! His grandfather was born in the late 1800s so I would guess the age of the bedstead date to about 1875ish? I have furniture from the 1930s through the 60s and a treadle Singer sewing machine still in use. I also have some cast iron handed down from greatgrandparents…early 1900s? Lol! Lots of old stuff in my house!