Inherited Ornaments

If things are breakable, DGC or large dogs can usually be relied on to dispose of them. If not, a box in the garage and if nobody has noticed for at least a year....out. BUT do not on pain of major grief watch Antiques Road Show /Cash in the Attic/Flog It or any such like as you will see the item and it will be worth an arm and a leg. Don't say you have not been warned.

I think you've worked it out jane - sort out with your family who wants what and pack away in separate boxes in the loft. Anything else either sell or give away. Sounds heartless, but I've done the "down-sizing" a couple of times in the past 10 years and have made myself get rid of stuff I don't like! Can be quite cathartic

My mum had two statuettes, La Belle Dame Sans Merci and a matching one. I would give anything to have those statuettes now but where and when they went is a mystery. I want my kids to go through my stuff and tell me what they want to keep, but they 'never have the time'. I've even resorted to things like putting lables on things saying 'this could be worth something'.

One tip I read was to take photos of stuff before you give it away or pack it in the loft. I've never done that myself though.

I have two Staffordshire pottery dogs. Very common in Victorian times. They were my great grans. They are unusual in that they are green and white. I've never seen another pair that colour. Has anyone else?
I have put them away as my cleaner is rather clumsy.

We can't agree as to which pieces, that is partly the problem. We have such different tastes. What has happened is that it is my own ornaments and pictures that have ended up in the loft since we downsized, the inherited stuff is all out. I agree with William Morris and always tried to live by that maxim, and I think that on the whole one memento per much-loved relative is sufficient as a lovely reminder, but things have got out of hand. I think just writing it on here has cleared the fog a little, I shall make the children tell me which pieces they really want kept and put them away in the loft, then we must choose which pieces we like to see from what is left, and the rest must go. Life is too short to spend most of it thinking about dusting knick knacks.

If they are all dead, give it to Oxfam. You could keep anything of sentimental or beauty value.

William Morris: "Keep nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Or words to that effect.

I don't have as much as you but last year I packed it up in labelled boxes and put it in the loft for the children to sort out eventually.