Extreme MSE

Gem-gem

All but three pieces of furniture in our house is 20+ years old and still in pristine condition. The dinning room table was my nanny's and is older then me, it is over 50 years old. We have a wooden blanket box that was made by hubby's neighbour - 50 plus years old.
Two chairs, one in each bedroom are over 60 years old, also came from hubby's parents house.
Our two sofas were my parents, just had them delivered to our house last year, they are 19 years old.
I have all my MIL old Pyrex dishes, wouldn't dream of buying the new stuff.
I have several cream jugs that were my nanny's.
Also have some vintage pieces of jewellery, that I gave inherited from hubby's mother and aunts and my nanny.

[Deleted User]

the bed in my spare room was given to me by my neighbours cousin it has a lattice base framework that slots into the headboard and footboard It wa bought in the early 1930s for her eldest son who would now be in his 80s She had five sons who all at one time or other slept in it .Given to me in 1968 as I needed a bed as my youngest DD was due and needed room in the cot .Both of my daughters have slept in it over the years and all at one time or another my seven grandchildren I even sleep in it when the weather is too warm as its in the back bedroom which is cooler.Its had three different mattresses over the years but It.s still a good bed and I am very loathe to part with it. Almost 90 years old and I believe it cost 4 guineas when bought What a bargain. When I move to the Isle of Wight in two years time the bed will come with me as its almost part of the family now
JackieO xx

Gers

Whilst the photos show the oldest receipts my DM has kept they are not the oldest things in her house.

My maternal grandmother was a brilliant seamstress and enjoyed doing embroidery. My DM has a large hoard of table clothes and other assorted linen which was worked on by my grandmother. There's even a pillowcase which she made in early 1920s. I can date it as she was born in 1899 and she has embroidered it with her maiden name. My aunt was born in 1924.

DM has the old Tupperware still, the stuff which could only be bought at parties. The Magi-mix sitting on her worktop is from the mid-eighties.

Those around in the war years certainly never lost their thrifty skills.

VfM4meplse

Gers wrote: »

My maternal grandmother was a brilliant seamstress and enjoyed doing embroidery. My DM has a large hoard of table clothes and other assorted linen which was worked on by my grandmother. There's even a pillowcase which she made in early 1920s.

Ditto mine!

My mum still has a couple of cushion covers made by her in the 1950s. They have a flower design, with sharp and pointy petals - incredibly made out of plastic bags and showing no sign of deterioration.

jak

My sofa and chairs in the lounge were born the same year as me! 1978. They came from the ideal home exhibition apparently. I got them for £15 from the original owners and never has there been a nicer, more comfy set! I Love them and plan to keep them forever! X

Siebrie

I have some handembroidered tablecloths from grandmothers, great aunts, and similar. They have been in regular use and are a bit worse for wear, so now I use them outdoors in summer. Most of them are embroidered with colourful flowers and they make a cheerful table

[Deleted User]

isn't it great that we all believe in saving stuff and not throwing it away .Sadly todays generation don't seem to think like that.

When I was in Bath last year on holiday I wandered with my friend into a 'vintage' shop and discovered that my best china tea service, bought a cup at a time (I used to work in Lewisham and opposite was a lovely china shop) so I would go in once a week when I got paid back in the early 1970s and buy a cup or a saucer or a plate.I eventually collected the bone china tea set, and it comes out on high days and holidays :)Now apparently its 'vintage' as the shop was selling a cup,saucer and tea plate for eye-watering amounts I shan't be selling mine through as my eldest DD asked if she could have it when I move in two years time She says it reminds her of being a little girl when her Granny came to stay as it always came out then

[Deleted User]

My mother moved into the family home and removed a Revo electric cooker.....it was bought by my grandfather when the electric cookers first came out which must have been in around 1917 when my uncle was born. The museum in Leicester took it as an example of an very early electric cooker and for many years it was on show in the Newarke Houses museum. I often wonder if they still have it. It was an integral part of my childhood.

Siebrie

I think some of the cotton handkerchiefs I use are at least 40 years old. I have some handembroidered/needlecrafted ones, very delicate, in all-white that are even older, which I use to make lavender sachets.

Slinky

I met an old neighbour at a funeral recently, who introduced me to the people he bought his home from. He was proudly telling them that their dining room wallpaper still graced his walls. He's only lived in the house 40 years.