Category Archives: Jewellery

Mummy Day

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Hoarder of Babylon

Today is Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, here in the UK. As I’ve written before, my mother was not someone who believed in celebrating Mother’s Day, which she saw as an artificial construct designed to encourage people to buy unnecessary … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900-1929, 1970s, Jewellery, Mum | Leave a comment

Home Again (Object 141)

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Hoarder of Babylon

I’m cheating a bit with this object as it wasn’t in my family until I bought it, new, in 2007. But it has family connotations, and a great family-related story attached to it. It is also one of the few … Continue reading →

Posted in Hebridean family, Jewellery | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The one that got away (Object 140)

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Hoarder of Babylon

This souvenir brooch from the Isle of Man belonged to my mother, but I don’t know the story behind it. I don’t remember her ever mentioning having been there, but she may well have done, or perhaps it was a … Continue reading →

Posted in "Auntie" (Mabel Zoe Watson), Jewellery, Mum | Tagged | Leave a comment

Daylight robbery (Object 139)

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Hoarder of Babylon

  This ornate silver box belonged to my grandmother, Margaret Lane, and is engraved with her initials. I remember my Mum keeping hairpins and other bits and bobs in it on her dressing table. I have long wanted to feature … Continue reading →

Posted in Furniture, Jewellery | Tagged , | 1 Comment

To Mandela. Amandla! (Object 109)

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Hoarder of Babylon

I was just at my desk writing another blog post about an old book, listening to the radio, when the death of Mandela was announced. So, I am writing this post instead. I bought this ANC 75th anniversary mug as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, Jewellery, Parents | 2 Comments

“A super lady” (Object 99)

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Hoarder of Babylon

My mother, pictured above in a newspaper article with the Duchess of Kent, died 12 years ago today. She was not “lucky”, as my Dad had been 9 years previously; it was not sudden, and she did suffer. For some … Continue reading →

Posted in Jewellery, Mum, Parents | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A stellar Roman holiday (Object 86)

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Hoarder of Babylon

I have recently visited Rome for the first time, spending an unforgettable 5 days steeped in ancient history and culture with 3 friends. My parents also visited Rome once, one of the many European trips they made with the free … Continue reading →

Posted in Dad, Jewellery, Ornaments ("ordiments"), Parents | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Waiting for a faithless Valentine” (Object 47)

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Hoarder of Babylon

I have known this little fellow all my life; it belonged to my mother and I can remember playing with it as a child. It is a carved wooden pig, barely 2 cm long, with a silver band for attachment … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930-1949, Jewellery, Mum | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cygnet ring (object 45)

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Hoarder of Babylon

My parents were married 60 years ago today; 2012 would have been their Diamond jubilee year. This crystal was a gift from us children on their ruby wedding anniversary, 20 years ago. The swans were my idea, because swans are … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990s, Dad, Jewellery, Mum, Ornaments ("ordiments"), Parents | 1 Comment

One gold plated ring (object 17)

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Hoarder of Babylon

This is my Grannie R’s engagement ring, which my parents gave me on my 21st birthday (along with Auntie‘s gold watch). She died 2 years before I was born, so I never knew her, and was thrilled to be given … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900-1929, 19th century, Glasgow family, Grannie R., Jewellery | 3 Comments