February 12, 2012
These emails always mean trouble…
So if you’re not busy Friday, there’s an auction of vintage Hermes items, in Paris.
Artcurial has Hermes auctions twice a year – vintage everything made by Hermes. Just scrolling through the lots here will give you food for many drooling dreams…
Which begs the question in my mind: am I leaving anything behind me, at the end of my life, which would even be WORTH auctioning?
I don’t want to have wasted every penny I’ve ever spent on things that my heirs will just throw away…
love,
Janice
I'm not all that interested in Hermes. I saw a woman in a consignment shop showing a lavender Birken bag. Only $4000 dollars because it had some damage. She said it would be $11,000 in perfect condition. I can't imagine spending that much money on a bag. For me, it's more important to have things that have personal meaning to me. I can't make purchases based on whether anyone would want to buy it in auction later.
Elizabeth
Spend it!
I'm not that worried about the monetary value of my things – I buy what appeals to me. What happens to the stuff of my life after I die is no concern of mine! Whoever gets to clean up can toss it all if they want. I'll be dead – I won't care at all!
Except my animals – that's something I am be concerned about. Perhaps I need to make some plans for them.
But Vivienne–if these Hermes items were inherited, the heirs don't seem to have wanted them, but have chosen to put them up for auction!
To tell you the truth, I think you've given a lot of good to the world through your beautiful blog, so you should relax about the stuff and just get what you want.
ditto!
i try to buy the best quality but judiciously so, so i can have time to use, enjoy and wear out whatever it is i have over a whole lifetime. my greatest "treasures" probably won't be worth much to anyone once i'm gone, since the value was in my memory of acquiring and using it. you probably heard this saying (variation of a hunter s thompson quote) before —
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
I would want the same philosophy for my bags and other things. when hermes bags go up for auctions in mint condition, i think ooh how sad, if this person never had the chance to use their beautiful things before they died! sorry for the long comment!!!!
You have two separate things to consider:
1. Whether you acquire anything of value
2. Whether your heirs *want* it
The sweet spot is to leave your possessions to persons who would be delighted to own them. Even things of not much worth (books, a small piece of art) can have tremendous sentimental value to an heir. Obviously this doesn't work out often: a tour of a large city's vintage jeweler's and auction houses shows where much of it ends up, so- please yourself
i believe that just because something has monetary value, it doesn't automatically make it "valuable." for my birthday present one year, my late grandmother put together for me a photo album ranging from sepia-toned and black & white photos of long gone (beautifully dressed, btw) relatives to her favorite photos of my siblings, my cousins, and me as babies. is it worth anything? the insurance appraiser would say no. but it lives in my safe because it is one of *the* most valuable things i own.
Oh Nikki, you're entirely right – some objects are beyond mere insurance valuation! I'm just hopeful of encouraging us to invest in some more beautiful, enduring treats for ourselves, in the knowledge that they will be worth handing down in years to come (and giving us all a reason to have the really GOOD stuff now). Your photo album sounds definitely heirloom, to me1
thanks for being here,
and thanks for your comment,
Vivienne
did you get anything from the vintage sale? i especially love vintage Hermes. there are so many stories and legacies there already!