The oldest family heirloom I know is within my family is a jade stone brooch. My greatx3 grandmother, so I have been told, gave one to each of her 3 daughters (my greatx2 grandmother and her sisters). Unfortunately, one of those family lines has died out and in the other line, it has gone missing. When my greatx2 grandmother died, my great grandfather took the brooch and gave it to my grandmother the day before I was born (strangely enough my name is Jade and that has nothing to do with the brooch). My grandmother still owns it and says she will pass it on when she dies (she says it will stay in the female line, and since she has 2 daughters and 1 granddaughter, she has lots of choice).