FAMILY
Generation games
Surprised to discover his children don’t want his antique ‘brown’ furniture, our columnist wonders what to do with his prized pieces
by MARK PALMER
ILLUSTRATION: STEPHEN COLLINS
The time has come to hand things down. Actually, this should have happened many years ago because ever since my mother died in 2005 I have had various pieces of furniture in storage or loitering in a friend’s barn.
I kept telling myself that it might come in handy, but it never has done. Some of the furniture has sentimental connotations, reminders of childhood, carefree days. And, frankly, some of it might fetch a bob or two at auction. There are chests of drawers, a couple of wardrobes, bookcases, sideboards — even a dining room table, which, if you put in the two spare leaves, can seat 12 without feeling you’re wedged like commuters at rush hour.