HINGHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- A South Shore family’s priceless heirlooms were lost when their 6-year-old took them out of the house without his parents' permission.

The first grader was bringing them for show and tell, but the items never made it to school.

When Diane DeNapoli recently went to her jewelry box, she thought she had been robbed.

“I opened the box and there was just nothing in there,” said DeNapoli.

Precious pieces -- mostly antiques -- were gone.

“Sentimentally it's irreplaceable. My mother's engagement ring, grandmother and grandparents wedding bands. Cameos. A cameo that was my great grandmother's. A watch that was my great grandmother's. A set of pearls,” said DeNapoli.

“I went into my mom's closet and then took the jewelry out. I wanted to show my best friends,” said Sean DeNapoli, six years old.

He put the jewelry into a decorative box and put it in his backpack.

Somewhere between the house, the bus, and his elementary school he lost the little box.

“The box is about this size. It’s made of composite metal. Silver tone with gems in rows going all the way down,” DeNapoli said.

Diane believes about 40 pieces are missing. She thinks the box might have been dropped, and hopefully someone will find it -- or perhaps a child picked it up and forgot to tell their parents.

“You can't get these back. I expected to give this one day to granddaughters I might have,” DeNapoli said.

Neighbors helped her search the house and yard. The school is searching as well.

“They survived the famine, the Great Depression, World War II; everything but not a 6-year0old,” said DeNapoli.

The family is hoping someone can help them retrieve an important part of their history.