Inherited Antiques: What to Do With Them (Keep, Sell or Donate)
Inherited antiques and don't know what to do? A calm step-by-step plan to identify, value, divide, sell or donate family pieces without regrets.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Inheriting a house full of furniture, china and keepsakes is emotional and overwhelming. It's tempting to call a clearance company and be done with it — but that's how valuable pieces end up in skips and on thrift store shelves. A little structure helps.
1. Don't rush, don't throw anything away yet
Unless you're under a hard deadline, take a few weeks. Small things — a brooch in a drawer, a stack of old postcards, a coin tin — are often worth more than big furniture.
2. Make an inventory
Go room by room. Photograph each item and note what you know about it. Check drawers, boxes, the backs of cupboards, attics and garages.
An app speeds this up: scan each piece with AntiqueIQ to get an identification, estimated value range, age and origin, and save it into a collection for that house. You'll quickly see where the value is concentrated.
3. Look for the hidden-value categories
Prioritize these, which often surprise families:
- Jewelry, including "costume" pieces — see costume jewelry worth money
- Silver, especially sterling — see sterling vs. silver plate
- Coins and stamps — see old coins worth money
- Watches and clocks
- Art and prints
- Mid-century furniture and design
- Old books, documents and photographs
4. Accept what has fallen in value
Some things that were expensive decades ago now sell for little: large dark "brown" furniture, formal dining sets, full china services, crystal stemware. It isn't a reflection of their quality — tastes changed. See antiques that aren't worth much anymore.
5. Decide what to keep
Keep what you love or use, and what carries family stories. Write down those stories and attach them to the items — provenance adds meaning, and sometimes value.
6. Get professional help for the high-value items
For anything the research suggests is valuable, get a professional opinion. See how to find an antique appraiser. If an estate needs a formal valuation for legal or tax reasons, you'll need a qualified appraiser anyway.
7. Choose how to sell the rest
- Better pieces: auction houses or specialist dealers
- Mid-range items: online marketplaces
- Bulk household contents: estate sale companies
- Low-value items: donation
See where to sell antiques for the pros and cons of each.
8. Divide fairly among family
Share the inventory (with photos and estimates) with everyone involved. Some families take turns choosing; others use estimated values to balance shares. Transparency prevents disputes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if inherited items are valuable?
Inventory them, look for marks, scan items for estimated values and research sold prices. Get an appraisal for anything that looks significant.
Should I hire an estate sale company?
For a full house of contents, they can save a lot of work. Remove and separately value high-value items first, and compare commission rates.
Is old furniture worth anything?
Some is, much isn't. Quality mid-century and fine period pieces sell well; common brown furniture often sells for little.