Furniture is one of the most concrete ways to pass down a family’s history. Whether purchased locally or abroad, our furniture enriched the rooms and lives of our ancestors. The stories these antiques carry with them transform them into precious relics that tie us back to our family’s roots. Preserving inherited antiques nourishes our connection to the past and reinforces our family legacy.
History Transforms a Home
Part of what transforms a house into a home are the memories we fill it with. While modern furnishings have their own appeal, antique furniture lends a historical and sophisticated quality to a room that newer pieces just can’t. When accentuated with family photographs and other mementos, the family energy is magnified and the house feels a little warmer.
High profile pieces, such as an armoire or dining set, are functional as well as elegant. These bring class and history to any room and can be used to set the tone of a space. Smaller pieces, such as end tables, lamps or mirrors, may be less noticeable additions, but they still add interest and depth to an otherwise standard décor. The impact of any antique treasure is made all the more powerful when those antiques were inherited.
The stories imbued into each antique speak volumes even to guests, but they provide relatives with an unparalleled window into the past. While scrapbooks, photo albums, and family trees can preserve events, names, and dates, furniture provides a tangible link to a family’s roots. Each time we interact with the pieces our predecessors lived with, we are touching a piece of history and sharing an experience with those who went before us.
The Role of Antique Restoration
It can be heartbreaking to see your family’s artifacts and history fall into disrepair. These pieces of history naturally wear and decay over time, and it’s up to us to preserve them. This is why restoration has become such a vital industry. Antique furniture restoration does more than just preserve the furniture in your home; it also preserves a part of your family history and keeps your home filled with memories.
Professionals, like the team at Rahn’s Furniture Restoration, understand the importance of proper restoration and maintenance. While new technology and techniques can help with repairs, it’s equally important to maintain the integrity and classic feel of antique furniture. Using historically accurate finishes (like shellac) helps preserve your family’s history along with each piece.
In order to capitalize on the historical narrative, many antique lovers opt for a worn look with distressed paint or a crackle finish. Others prefer to bring their inheritance up to date with a fresh coat of paint and a modern polish. Regardless of the finished look, mixing antiques and family heirlooms into a room of otherwise modern furniture creates a unique and personalized feel.
For our ancestors, passing something down through future generations was perhaps even more important than simply maintaining their possessions. Laying a foundation for our descendants is a way of leaving a mark on the world. Our ancestors may have consciously or unconsciously laid the foundations for our lives by preserving their lives in the furniture that once filled their homes. In either case, it is up to us to honor and care for that legacy so that, one day, we might pass these pieces down ourselves.
