Old things anchor us emotionally through memory and meaning.

Vintage objects offer authenticity in a fast, digital world.

Aged items connect personal, cultural, and familial identity.

Typically, any object that has been around longer than we have can give us a feeling of warmth. For example, scuffed-up wooden chairs, ceramics that have a small crack, and black-and-white photos curling at the edges all possess a hidden richness. They give off a soft vibration of all the stories they have held. Objects that have weathered time are more than just objects. They are companions. They tell us we are part of a longer timeline that extends both before us and will extend after us.

Nostalgia plays a part in this, of course. Researchers like Holbrook and Schindler (2003) have shown that the memories tied to familiar things can tug at us in powerful ways. This is why a childhood toy can still stir something in us decades later, or why a record player feels more soulful than a streaming app. Old things act almost like small, solid pieces of the past. They are shortcuts to memory we can touch.

Continuity, Identity, and the Comfort of Imperfection

In addition to reminiscing, nostalgia also involves retaining one’s self-image. Goulding (1999) argues that as time moves quickly, older adults increasingly turn to nostalgia to help hold their identities. Examples of nostalgic items such as a piece of furniture passed down through generations or an old family heirloom stored away can provide stability, like an anchor.

The rest of the globe has also seen that many people are returning to memories of the past, which is one reason why vintage fashion is making a comeback. According to Brembeck and Sörum (2017), nostalgia influences entire markets. Consumers are not only drawn to vintage-looking items but are looking to buy a feeling they have an authentic product. The new, shiny, mass-produced world we live in has produced a sense of authenticity to objects that are well-worn or imperfect. Those imperfections are significant because they provide evidence. For example, a scratch on a nightstand or a worn edge of a book—both of these indicate that they have been used and cared for. In today’s world, many products are designed to look new forever, but they also give you a sense of comfort because they are proof that being old does not mean being broken. Sometimes it is character.

Vintage pieces can also let us slip into eras we never lived through. According to Sarial-Abi et al. (2017), these objects can connect with time across history as well as a part of a code with a narrative that will assist individuals in making meaning in their lives. When you put on some type of vintage clothing from the 1970s or turn on a lamp that was manufactured in days past, there is a sense of feeling; it may not be your experience to have been alive in the past, but you now share in the nostalgic memories created by those objects with another generation.

Old Things as Social Memory

The love for heirlooms is a shared pleasure, and they have a lot more meaning than just their form. For instance, a grandmother's quilt has her love woven into every thread, as well as the memory of her intensity used to create it. Similarly, a father's watch continues to tell time after he has passed on. While these types of items serve as a reminder of their owners, they actively maintain that emotional connection between two individuals. As such, they also serve as small reminders of the many people with whom we share a connection.

The current trend in society seems to be toward immediate gratification through speed and convenience, which makes it somewhat rebellious to choose something that isn't new. It's simply the opposite of the current trend of fast. Working on something old often promotes a slower pace in life, because you are taking the time and care to do it correctly. When you mend the leg of an old chair or polish the metal of of an antique item, you are more than just performing routine maintenance; you are participating in a time-honored tradition that numerous others have experienced prior to you.

Perhaps the greatest reason we cherish older objects is because they reflect our lives. They soften and bend, collect marks, tell tales, and endure modifications. New objects shine brightly with promise, but older things show us the value of experience, which can be felt only through time and being touched. When we appreciate an older piece, we learn to appreciate time itself. Life consists of layers upon layers of little experiences, with contributions from all those who have lived before us until it's our turn. Through older items, we can carry, albeit for a fleeting moment, all of these experiences in what we hold.

Brembeck, H., & Sörum, N. (2017). Assembling nostalgia: Devices for affective captation on the re-heritage market. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 23(7), 635–648. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2017.1300928

Goulding, C. (1999). Heritage, nostalgia, and the “grey” consumer. Journal of Marketing Practice: Applied Marketing Science, 5(6/7/8), 177–199. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000004573

Holbrook, M. B., & Schindler, R. M. (2003). Nostalgic bonding: Exploring the role of nostalgia in the consumption experience. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 3(2), 107–127. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.127

Sarial-Abi, G., Vohs, K. D., Hamilton, R., & Ulqinaku, A. (2017). Stitching time: Vintage consumption connects the past, present, and future. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 27(2), 182–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2016.06.004

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