Reuniting Generations: A Social Media Post Brings Back a Family Heirloom After 15 Years
In the wake of her mother's passing, Celia Bashaw's quest for a cherished family heirloom carved by her great uncle, Chuck Perkins, takes a surprising turn thanks to a social media post. Discover the heartwarming journey that reunites a family with a long-lost treasure after years of separation.
After her mother passed away two years ago, Celia Bashaw found herself constantly thinking about art. And not just any art - she was fixated on an heirloom that her great uncle, Chuck Perkins, had carved. This special piece was beloved by her mother and grandmother, but unfortunately, Bashaw couldn't seem to locate it.
After her grandmother passed away 15 years ago, her family found the item among her belongings. They discovered that her great uncle from Vermont had given it away, hoping the new owners in Vermont would keep it safe. Unfortunately, the new owners ended up selling it.
She decided to reach out by making a Facebook post in a group for Vermonters, with the hope of finding the buyers and recovering the piece.
Bashaw shared with CNN, "My mom had a whole chest filled with photos - pictures of everyone in the family and items that were very special to her. Among those photos were clear images of the family heirloom I was searching for. Previously, I only had a vague description of it and no good photos."
Bashaw shared three photos of an engraving showing a leopard relaxing in a tree. The post was liked and shared about 600 times, as reported by CNN affiliate WCAX.
A few people commented that the piece appeared slightly altered from the original one Bashaw had posted. In response, Bashaw mentioned that despite some signs of aging, she could validate its authenticity through her great uncle's woodburned signature on the back.
Misty Bashaw, Celia's mother, had been looking for the missing heirloom made by her "favorite" uncle Chuck Perkins.
Misty Bashaw, Celia's mother, had been looking for the missing heirloom made by her "favorite" uncle Chuck Perkins.
Celia Bashaw was amazed when she saw a picture of a unique engraving that resembled her uncle's carving. She couldn't believe how identical it was and knew she couldn't let it go.
In Rutland, Vermont, Chris McKirryher and her partner, Phil Matte, came across the Facebook post and knew they could help Bashaw with his unlikely mission.
They had purchased the carving at a yard sale in Pittsford, Vermont.
Bashaw drove two-and-a-half hours from Plattsburgh, New York, to Vermont for a meeting with McKirryher and Matte. She told CNN that she found them to be "just so darling" and she "loved them immediately." Despite feeling nervous about meeting strangers from the internet, Bashaw discovered that the duo were "so nice and such great people."
Matte expressed to WCAX that amidst all the bad news circulating, it was refreshing to encounter something really nice. He agreed to sell it back to Bashaw.
Bashaw recently posted in the Facebook group expressing her joy about being reunited with her great uncle's artwork. She thanked her friends, family, and community for their support in helping her locate the piece. "I'm so grateful and fortunate," she wrote.
After finding the artwork, Bashaw now feels like a part of her mother and grandmother has returned home.
"It means a lot to me because I don't have many things from my mom or grandma. It's been tough to find a photo of me and my grandmother together. We were really close, and it makes me sad," she shared.
Top: April Perkins, Celia's grandmother (left), and Misty Bashaw, Celia's mother, who died in 2008 and 2022, respectively. Bottom: Misty (left) and April.
Top: April Perkins, Celia's grandmother (left), and Misty Bashaw, Celia's mother, who died in 2008 and 2022, respectively. Bottom: Misty (left) and April.
Courtesy Celia Bradshaw
It was such a special moment for her to have the important piece of art back in her possession. She wished she could share the news with her mom, who would have been just as excited. She hoped her mom could see it now that she had it back because her mom had been searching for it too.
Bashaw, who is also an artist, decided to return the carving to her grandfather's house instead of keeping it in her own home.
"He has the wall still where there’s almost an outline of where it used to be, so as soon as I put it there, it's just supposed to be there. I think it'll bring some solace to my grandpa too," she said.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the animal in the engraving as a leopard.
Editor's P/S:
Celia Bashaw's relentless search for her great uncle's carving, a cherished heirloom that held sentimental value for her family, is a testament to the enduring power of art and the bonds it can create. The carving, once lost and presumed gone forever, served as a tangible connection to her late mother and grandmother, making its rediscovery a deeply emotional experience. Bashaw's perseverance and the kindness of strangers who came to her aid underscore the importance of community and the human desire to preserve our heritage.
The fact that Bashaw ultimately chose to return the carving to her grandfather's house, where it had once hung, speaks to the significance it held for her family as a whole. By placing it back in its original home, she not only honored her mother's memory but also provided solace to her grandfather, who had missed having it in his possession. This decision reflects Bashaw's understanding that art is not merely an object but a symbol of love, connection, and the stories that bind us together.
