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In popular usage, anheirloom is something that has been passed down forgenerations through family members. Examples are afamily bible,antiques,weapons orjewellery.[1]
The term originated with the historical principle of an heirloom inEnglish law, achattel which by immemorial usage was regarded as annexed byinheritance to afamily estate. Loom originally meant a tool. Such genuine heirlooms were almost unknown by the beginning of the twentieth century.[2]
In the English legal system, any owner of a genuine heirloom could dispose of it during his lifetime, but he could notbequeath it bywill away from the estate. If the owner diedintestate, it went to hisheir-at-law, and if hedevised the estate it went to the devisee. The word subsequently acquired a secondary meaning, applied to furniture, pictures,etc., vested intrustees to hold on trust for the person for the time being entitled to the possession of asettled house. Such things were more properly called settled chattels.[2] As of 1 January 1997, no furthersettled land can be created and the remaining pre-existing settlements have a declining importance in English law.[3]
An heirloom in the strict sense was made by family custom, not by settlement. A settled chattel could be sold under the direction of the court, and the money arising under such sale iscapital money.[4] The court would only sanction such a sale, if it could be shown that it was to the benefit of all parties concerned and if the article proposed to be sold was of unique or historical character. The court had regard to the intention of the settlor and the wishes of theremainder men.[2][5]
Pusaka is aSanskrit word meaning heirloom. WithinJavaneseKejawen culture and otherAustronesian cultures affected by it, known as theMalays, but most specifically the inhabitants of modern-dayIndonesia andMalaysia (Minangs),Balinese,Bataks,Bugis,Manado,Minang,Moro,Pampangan,Tagalog and many others,pusaka specifically refers to family heirlooms inherited fromancestors, which must be treasured and protected. Thesepusaka may have individual names, honorific titles and may havesupernatural attributes and qualities. The possessor of thepusaka may be positively or negatively affected by thepusaka, depending on the will or spirit of the item.
The Javanese warrior-kingPangeran Sambernyawa'skeris was apusaka so powerful that merely pointing at the distantChinese,Dutch or other enemies, it would snatch their souls and leave them dead on the battlefield. Allegedly, formerIndonesian PresidentSuharto held possession of this powerful pusaka and hadIndonesia scoured for the manypusaka lost to time, including, according to rumours, the mask ofGadjah Mada, severaltombak (pikes and lances) and many keris, to affirm his legitimacy as a modern pseudo-king.[citation needed]
The plot of the Anthony Trollope novelThe Eustace Diamonds hinges on the heirloomic status (or not) of a diamond necklace.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Heirloom".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 217.