The appeal for me is about comfort, and history, craftsmanship, resourcefulness, whimsey, but mostly sentimentality.
It’s hard for me to explain, I like things that are comforting and mean something to me. I would much rather have and use my great-grandmother’s dining table, than have a new one. Even with old things that didn’t belong to someone that I have known, I like the thought of it being used by others. I can “see” (feel) the other people who have used it. I also enjoy taking something that has been painted or dirty and thrown away, and returning it to it’s beautiful self again by stripping or cleaning or whatever means necessary.
I collect family heirlooms of all kinds. I also collect (old) doorknobs, and lock-sets, kitchen tools, certain books, hand forged metal pieces, made at home aprons, old keys, old tools, thimbles and vintage jewelry.
I notice that many of the things I collect are held in the hand, or made by hand. I think that significant for me.
I feel the people.