The provenance, history, materials used and level of craftsmanship all increase the value of an antique. However, the memories that an antique carries with it also have sentimental value, especially if the antique has been inherited from a dear departed one. And although an item may be worth next to nothing to an auctioneer or a collector, to the owner of an inherited piece, no price could ever match its sentimental value.

Ceramic artist and author Edmund de Waal wrote a brilliant study, The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance (Vintage, 2011), which takes cue from a netsuke collection to trace the history of a grand family. In this clever and unusual family memoir, De Waal takes the reader along on his journey of discovery of his family’s past through a collection of 264 Japanese wood and ivory carvings.

Although some of the netsuke pieces are not bigger than a matchbox, they take on weighty meaning as we learn of the rise and fall of the Ephrussis – once a wealthy European Jewish banking dynasty – and the metaphorical scattering of the family’s ashes in Odessa, fin de siècle Paris, occupied Vienna and Tokyo.

Admittedly not all of us are lucky to inherit items with such a rich history (or unlucky, as de Waal’s family were the victims of many anti-Semitic attacks including during WWII). But rich history or not, ultimately it is the connection with one’s past and with one’s loved ones that make such antiques sentimental.

Sentimental treasures make a home special. A piece of silver or a favourite aunt’s china vase make us feel connected to people and experiences long gone.

Of course, although inherited pieces that belonged to someone you knew and loved are nostalgic treasures that keep memories alive, balance and discernment are still key because, when selecting items to keep from a loved one, it can be tempting to go overboard.

It is the connection with one’s past and with one’s loved ones that make such antiques sentimental

Interior designer Jessica McClendon abides by this rule: “Never keep something simply because it belonged to someone you love. While it may make you feel connected to that person, if you don’t like it, that connection won’t be a positive one. Instead, release yourself from guilt and figure out a way to honour your loved one without staring at a big piece of furniture you loathe.”

If you’re going to hide away a piece you don’t like then it’s not worth having. Instead, you could update the piece to fit your needs. Perhaps upholster an old armchair or have an old coin melted into a decorative spoon or teaspoon, turn old fashion magazines into framed art, or even have an old copper plate double up as the face of a coffee table.

Sentimental items should make you feel connected to others and to the experiences you shared with them. Putting them in your home honours that connection. Changing the piece or making it into something new is a way of adding a piece of yourself to the story and enriching it for the next generation.