Are antiques becoming a thing of the past?

There is a big difference in handing down a hand-crafted oak table or maple linen chest and getting Aunt Susan's fiber board and fake wood desk. I am sure that some antiques will never go out of style. A mother handing down her wedding rings to a daughter for example. But the problem with antique furniture is that we simply do not make this stuff like we used to. Everything comes in a box with some assembly required, or is made out of recycled cardboard and sawdust. It usually doesn't last a third of OUR lifetime, so why would we really think it is gonna last 3-4 generations? I would say that some things have sentimental value. In my case, my father is into woodworking and has built several beautiful things in his life...a large pine bookcase with four shelves and matching doors on the bottom....A set of oak spoon racks...a cherry photo display unit... These things I hope will be handed down from family member to family member. As for my Sears CD cabinet and Ikea stereo cabinet, that p ... more