This study examines how material objects sustain family relationships in contexts of displacement and disruption, focusing on two women in Sweden whose parents and grandparents fled Estonia during the Second World War. I investigate how materiality intertwines with memory and imagination, demonstrating that objects—even when their origins are unclear or initially unknown—possess mnemonic and imaginative qualities that help materialize stories and memories, fostering intergenerational continuity and belonging. The case study reveals that such adopted objects act as active agents of memory, enabling individuals to reconstruct disrupted family histories, affirm identity, and sustain continuity through imaginative and affective engagement. I propose that distinguishing between inherited and adopted objects provides a valuable lens for understanding how memory, identity, and materiality intersect in contexts marked by displacement, loss, and disruption. This study highlights that continuity and belonging are not only preserved through what is handed down but also actively constructed through engagement with material culture. My findings challenge the assumption that only inherited family objects can sustain kinship ties and memory, showing that adopted objects play a central role in reconstructing pasts and maintaining belonging across generations in contexts of disruption and dislocation.
Viktorija L. A. Čeginskas (Thu,) studied this question.