What is an Heirloom Quilt?
12-12-2017, 07:59 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,281
My dictionary defines "Heirloom" as, #1 A valued possession passed down in a family through succeeding generations. #2 (law) An article of personal property included in an inherited estate.
I had a quilt made by my grandmother and gifted to my mother, then gifted to me. I then gifted it to my daughter who is childless, and asked that it one day be gifted to my granddaughter, (her niece) I'm fairly certain that will happen, and I do consider this an Heirloom Quilt, even though my grandmother made many quilts for others that were not passed to the next generation and I personally would not consider them Heirloom Quilts. Perhaps the recipients of those quilts do.
I had a quilt made by my grandmother and gifted to my mother, then gifted to me. I then gifted it to my daughter who is childless, and asked that it one day be gifted to my granddaughter, (her niece) I'm fairly certain that will happen, and I do consider this an Heirloom Quilt, even though my grandmother made many quilts for others that were not passed to the next generation and I personally would not consider them Heirloom Quilts. Perhaps the recipients of those quilts do.
12-12-2017, 09:45 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 9,300
Per Merriam-Webster dictionary:
[h=2]Definition of heirloom[/h]: a piece of property (such as a deed or charter) that descends to the heir as an inseparable part of an inheritance of real property
2: something of special value handed down from one generation to another
From this definition, I derive (parenthetically) that an heirloom--any type of heirloom :
-is a piece of real property (as opposed to an intangible thing)
-has been handed down from one generation to the next (at least once)
-has special value (which may be monetary, sentimental, historical, cultural, or a combination thereof)
I agree with ghostrider; no one can make a new heirloom quilt because, by definition, an heirloom has been handed down, not simply intended to be handed down. If I make a new quilt to be given to, say, my daughter as a wedding present, it's a wedding present, but it wouldn't be an heirloom because it hadn't been a part of my generation for longer than it took me to make it. (Of course, at the rate I go, that could, obstensibly, take 20 years, so.... LOL) Not until my daughter hands it down to her child, or niece, or whomever is a younger generation, would it be an heirloom.
I don't see that amount of use, quality of workmanship, or condition have anything to "heirloomnicity". (I like that word. :O )
[h=2]Definition of heirloom[/h]: a piece of property (such as a deed or charter) that descends to the heir as an inseparable part of an inheritance of real property
2: something of special value handed down from one generation to another
- The pin she's wearing is a family heirloom.
From this definition, I derive (parenthetically) that an heirloom--any type of heirloom :
-is a piece of real property (as opposed to an intangible thing)
-has been handed down from one generation to the next (at least once)
-has special value (which may be monetary, sentimental, historical, cultural, or a combination thereof)
I agree with ghostrider; no one can make a new heirloom quilt because, by definition, an heirloom has been handed down, not simply intended to be handed down. If I make a new quilt to be given to, say, my daughter as a wedding present, it's a wedding present, but it wouldn't be an heirloom because it hadn't been a part of my generation for longer than it took me to make it. (Of course, at the rate I go, that could, obstensibly, take 20 years, so.... LOL) Not until my daughter hands it down to her child, or niece, or whomever is a younger generation, would it be an heirloom.
I don't see that amount of use, quality of workmanship, or condition have anything to "heirloomnicity". (I like that word. :O )
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
Links and Resources
0
12-09-2010 12:20 PM
