There's one thing I don't understand that maybe you clever people could enlighten me on. Why is it that people have a love for ancient antique things but don't care very much for old people? They either put them in senior citizens homes, or worse still, they are left to live alone in their homes. The children have grown up and left the nest and never get in touch or visit. And the neighbours, for the most part, either don't take any notice of the elderly lonely person living next door, or are too busy to care anyway.
Not me though. I care for my elderly neighbour who lives alone a few houses down the road. I visited her the other day to see if she wanted anything bought from the supermarket. She needed a number of items which she had run out of. So I gave her my shopping list too. There's no point in both of us going out is there?
Anyway, that is not the point of this post today. And something without a point is pointless. Especially a pointless pencil. What's the point in that?
What I wanted to talk about is real antiques. Not antique people with wrinkles so deep they look like an ancient Roman or Greek urn. Do you know what's a Greek urn? About 200 Euros a month, depending on what work he does. A Roman urn might cost a bit more.
Let's talk antiques. Why do we value old things so much? Old paintings, old furniture like Louis XIV furniture, Stradivarius violin, pottery, jewellery and so on?
There are so many programs on TV devoted to valuing, buying and selling antiques, and it surprises me what people are willing to pay for some items that are hundreds or more years old.
Let's say for instance that you own a famous Van Gogh. It would be worth thousands of £s, or $s, plus an ear I'd guess.
But why? Why is it that your ownership of such a painting would value it so high? After all, he painted other paintings owned by other people. And they are all also worth a fortune. And other painters like Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Constable and Picasso also painted many paintings. Why is each one of them worth a different fortune? It is after all paint on canvass or wood or whatever.
Or that old Chinese vase, or the antique watch, or the Chippendale chair, or whatever else you care to mention. Why are they worth so much?
And what do you do when you have them?
You have a unique painting. Someone else has a unique marble statue. Another person has a unique antique cell-phone used by Shakespeare.
So what? What is the point of having this unique item? And once you have it, you have to take care it is not stolen from you. You have to care it is not damaged or broken. Some painting I understand can be ruined by moisture, dampness, sun light or whatever.
Although it does not seem to have affected the painting I did years ago which has been stored in the garage for years. It is covered with dust (or patina) but it is still worthless.
Some people even collect wine as an investment. I don't mean wine you buy at the supermarket; but expensive ancient wines from ancient vineyards and crops. Wines with names like Châteaux Expensive, or Châteaux Exorbitant. And the bottles are kept in special cellars with the right temperature and dampness and dust. It will never be drunk but kept as an investment. Some organisations will buy and sell the wine on your behalf and charge you a fee. You'll never see the bottles you own as such, the organisation will do all the buying/selling work for you and send you the paperwork informing you of your investment.
Why is it if you own such an item as wine, antique or whatever it is valued at a fortune? I appreciate that it is unique. But then, so is the impression I made the other day when I sat on a newly painted garden bench. The size and shape of my bottom on that bench is unique. There is no other bench like it. Why is it not worth a fortune? Should I take it to the Antiques Road Show do you think? The bench, not my bottom. Although my bottom would accompany me as well.
You see my point. Why is it that the age, and rarity, or uniqueness of an item is worth so much to some people?
But then ... each one of us is unique. Each one is different? And some are more ancient than others. Why is it we do not appreciate each other more? Why is it we do not appreciate old people more?
I don't understand. I believe each one of us is priceless. Yet we do not appreciate our true value and worth. We should invest in people not things!
I think I'll paint the shape of my bottom on a framed canvass and make a fortune.
All kidding aside, I've been astonished and saddened at how little attention my 90 year old disabled mother gets from her neighbors. I'm not quite sure what that's about ... maybe they're afraid of their own mortality or see the family and aides in and out almost daily.
ReplyDeleteSad. Isn't it ...
It doesn't take much to let people know you care and that you're available. And I'm guessing they just aren't able to go there ...
Hi Linda,
DeleteI's good to see you visiting here again. Thanx.
I know from personal experience that some people are afraid/wary to visit elderly people at home in case they get falsely accused of stealing or whatever. Some elderly people tend to be confused and misplace things and then wrongly blame someone who has visited them of taking it.
As you say, it is sad that people don't visit the old and the lonely so much these days as they used to do in the past. Society is getting rather suspicious and many people prefer not to get involved at all.
Also, as you say, they may be afraid of their own mortality or are too busy with their own lives.
Praying for you and yours.
God bless.
All my old folks are gone, and I miss them. I suppose now I am the old folk. I hope I am considered as much a treasure as my "Old" folks were.
ReplyDeleteI love antique furniture, so do my brothers. When it was time to distribute my moms stuff each sibling received pieces which we all treasured. Now we are down sizing and offer these treasured pieces to our children and are told "No one wants 'brown' furniture anymore!"
You are right on several points, JoeH.
Delete1 It is true you are a treasure. Priceless I should say.
2 It is good to pass on valuable items to one's children. Both as a souvenir of our parents/relatives, and for their value.
3 You are also correct that in the antique world brown furniture has lost some of its value right now. These things go in trends. One day it's furniture, then it's art deco, or glass like Lallitte, Waterford or Royal Doulton porcelain. Furniture is not favoured right now partly because it does not fit in with modern housing and current fashion.
God bless you and yours.
Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, R.
DeleteGod bless you.
Great points! I've never understood the satisfaction one gets from possessing (so-called) valuable paintings and the like. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, indeed. I only wish society took time to appreciate the value of its elderly population.
ReplyDeletePS - Some folks still do. Perhaps that's why I so enjoy reading Sean of the South's daily column. Today's for instance:
https://seandietrich.com/
The thing is, Mevely, modern society has become more materialistic than ever before. Yes, people have always been materialistic; but more so now, I feel.
DeleteAnd they want it instantly. No waiting. Get it now. Pay later. Instant everything. A friend of mine got fired from his job at a medical lab for inventing instant laxative. He was told it was too instant. Also, he should not have tested it on the nurses.
And modern society does does not appreciate the past either. Nostalgia is not what it used to be. For them nostalgia is thinking about the last cell-phone they had. They all want riches now. They want a BMW now. And that's only because they cannot spell Porsche anyway.
Thanx for the link. I need a very sweet coffee too!!!
God bless.
We took care of my father-in-law until he was 96 years old. He then had health issues that could not be handled at home anymore. He was then placed in a very nice nursing home where he had a view of the river which he loved. He lived another two years and then he passed away peacefully at 98 years old. My husband and I were with him.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky the little old lady that you handed your shopping list to didn't knock you on your ASSests.
BTW I love old and vintage collectables because they have history and beauty and many are older than me even :)
God's Blessings you Funny but Smart man ☕🌷
Your father-in-law was very fortunate to have such caring people like you and your husband, Jan. Not many people are that fortunate.
DeleteThe old neighbour was glad to do my shopping as well as hers. It was only two extra bags to carry. The old ladies in our neighbourhood are very kind. There's one mowing our lawn right now, and another is changing the oil in the car. They'll clean the rain gutters later. I had thought of giving them some money; but that would be insulting I think.
God bless, Jan.
I am sure that they would love to be insulted by a small gratuity from you Victor. Remember, God is watching 🌷🌞🐦
DeleteGood point, Jan. $2 each should buy them supper for a week.
DeleteKeep smiling my friend. God bless.
Every person is valuable, no matter what their age, because we are all children of God. I think it's tragic that we can care more about things than people. Serious thoughts here, Victor, with just the right amount of humor sprinkled throughout!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Thank you Martha for your kind words. It is sad how people don't seem to care for each other even more than they do. The generation gap is growing ever so wider I think.
DeleteGod bless.
Older people love having people listen to them. Some are lonely and just want to talk, a conversation with someone. We can learn so much just by listening which lots of people don't do these days.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful evening, Victor.
Yes, you're right, Bill. I used to visit an old lady and all she wanted to do is reminisce about the past and her life when she was younger.
DeleteBest wishes to you. God bless.
I've always gotten on well with old people even as a child.
ReplyDeleteThey don't ask for much, just a little time.
I have some antiques and treasure them because they belonged to family members. When I sit at an old desk I have I remember my grandmother sitting at when I came to visit.
I like to collect old things too just because I like them and use the to decorate the house.
Nothing wrong in having an old thing like an antique. What I don't understand is paying a fortune for a painting, or an item that was made or belonged to someone famous. Like a Louis XIV chair, or a painting by a master.
DeleteGod bless, Happyone.
Yes, I agree!!
DeleteIn the 50 plus years of our ministry, mine with the elderly. I loved visiting the rest homes and bringing a smile to a wrinkled face, a toothless mouth, or eyes that could hardly see. How they loved to just hold my hand. I would sing hymns to them that they remembered as a child. God put in my DNA from an early age to have a heart for the elderly. My precious mom took me with her when I was a small child with her to Rest Homes. That was the beginning.
ReplyDeleteNow, I'm elderly, but my heart will always be with those human antiques... As for your bottom on canvas...I don't think I will hang that one ...haha.
PS I did post the sign you wanted to see larger!
DeleteYes, I know what you mean, Wanda. A number of elderly people like to reminisce about their youth and how life was different then. I guess they were happier in those days somehow. Life may have been difficult but humanity was closer to each other.
DeleteGod bless.
We need to end the mentality that the person who dies with the most toys is somehow a winner.
ReplyDeleteWe all know The Almighty doesn't judge us based on our net worth or how much we owned, but how we loved others.
Your humor is insightful and full of great points, i wish more people would think on these things and change their lives because of the truths you point out.
Thank you for your kind words and wisdom, Mimi. Sadly, many people seem to live/waste their lives in pursuit of wealth and possessions. It's the modern/wrong way of doing things.
DeleteGod bless.