Priceless and poignant family heirlooms: A most unusual house clearance

Hard to believe how long it has been since I last wrote here - but better later than never...
Several trips later, to Paris several times and also once to the Kempinski spa hotel near Frankfurt, I am back home for the next few weeks at least I believe.
A recent small venture has been to take a course in making cosmetic creams and other items such as lip-slaves and shampoos, all using well-sourced ingredients and certainly avoiding mineral oils and other 'no-no's'. Initially my products will be for myself and those close to me should they be interested. Yesterday I made a face cream which includes good quality vegetable oils and a herbal infusion of my own making. The result has been quite good, but needs some modifications next time. As my instructor wisely recommended, I shall be noting down the ingredients and results each time I make something to refer back to. I even have plans to harvest and dry a herb which I have in my garden as it contains elements beneficial to the skin. A fascinating hobby in which I have always had an interest : already many years ago I used to make cosmetics. My plan is to experiment for some months after which I shall go to take the intermediate course with the same company. They sell many base ingredients many of which have been worked on to ensure that ethical and health concerns are met.
This is all trivial compared to a chance discussion today. I visited an antiques market to collect a piece of jewelry being mended for me. During my visit I also bought a pretty fan of ivory and paper - somewhat the worse for wear and in need of attention, but basically sound. I spoke for some time with the fellow from whom I bought it who clears houses. After a while he told me that much of what he had on his stall today came from the house of a very elderly recently deceased man (RIP)- 93 or 94 I think. That would not be so terribly exceptional, but he told me that the man had been an Auschwitz survivor and that a documentary about him is currently being produced by a television company. We had already spoken of our own love of objects from our families which, whilst not of great value, we treasured:- in my case some furniture made by my maternal grandfather, and in the stall-holder's some gold minatures made by his father from dust/shavings that jewellery apprentices were allowed to keep and use... How precious and priceless such objects are. To get back to the old man, apparently he had kept a razor with a note that it had been his father's and his grandfather's before that... Terribly poignant. There were papers which I presume have been saved :- awareness of this life which must have included many terrible experiences, must not be lost. I also heard of an almost unbelievable way in which some inmates of that terrible death camp wrote:- but I will leave that until the documentary comes out. The stall-holder, who I must add was very sensitive to the situation and dying to tell someone about it, showed me an example which will haunt me....