Episode 17 Restoration Roadshow


Episode 17

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Transcript


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Hello. I'm Eric Knowles and this is what this programme is all about.

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Could it be restored? And more importantly, should it be restored?

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And if so, could it make you some money should you take it to auction?

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We'll find out on Restoration Roadshow.

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Welcome to magnificent Burghley House,

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home to successive generations for over 450 years.

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It's 100-plus rooms, from Tudor kitchens to Baroque masterpieces,

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are full of priceless heirlooms. And the good people of Lincolnshire

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have brought along their own treasures today.

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We've got all sorts of battered antique in need of surgery.

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Everyone wants to know how valuable their items are.

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Your painting may be worth in the region of £5,000.

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Are they worth cleaning up and restoring?

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-We have had a valuer look at it.

-Yes.

-He said £300 to £400.

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-Wow.

-Will they end up back home?

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She would never have parted with it, so I don't want to now, you see.

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'Or make some money if they go to auction?'

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At £360 and...

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'Coming up - an early 20th century oil painting needs cheering up,

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'but I know just the person for the job.'

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She's the James Herriott of the Restoration Roadshow.

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A stunning Victorian music cabinet in need of help has our restorer waxing lyrical.

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It's a nice piece, it's got lovely decorations.

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Nice brass work. It deserves to have a bit of life put back into it.

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And we reel in a very curious catch.

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I wonder how many people watching this programme will realise exactly what they are?

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We've pulled the antiques by the trolley-load today

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and our expert restorers are already busy doing the rounds.

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-It's seen some life, hasn't it?

-Oh, yes.

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'One item I'm keen to get a full patient history on is this charming

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'20th century oil painting brought in by owner, Graham Sawfleet.'

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How long has this faithful friend been in your family?

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Since just after the First World War.

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How long have you had him?

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-Since 1962. 47 years?

-OK. And was he ever in a frame?

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I mean, in this state, it begs the question was he ever framed?

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The only frame I know of it has been the dust around it.

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HE LAUGHS

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It's obviously been rolled up at some stage, hasn't it? It goes without saying.

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47 years it's been rolled up!

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Really? It's a bit sad, really, because it's not a bad painting.

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I mean, I see there's a signature down here as well. For...

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"F Daws." I know his pedigree, if you'll pardon the pun.

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I know that he was at the School of Art, the Lambeth School Of Art.

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But he's probably better known for his dog sculptures.

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Frederick Daws designed some of Royal Doulton's best selling ceramic dogs in the 1930s

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and gave this painting to Graham's father, a fellow-student at Lambeth School Of Art.

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If I was to put a value on this today, I would say even in this state, it's got to be worth £300.

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Maybe £400.

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There's an awful lot needs to be done to this dog to bring him back to anywhere near his old self.

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Looks like a search and rescue mission for our painting restorer.

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Lucia Scalisi was painting conservator at the V&A

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before setting up on her own and has worked on everything,

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from Picassos to priceless Holbein portraits.

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I realise that St Bernard dogs are well known for rescuing people.

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But I think we've got a role reversal here, Lucia.

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Can you rescue the St Bernard dog?

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Actually, roll is the word. This painting's been rolled up,

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which is not the best thing for canvas paintings at all,

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because the paint surface is actually quite fragile.

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But if they do have to be rolled up, the best way to do it is to have

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the actual painting on the outside,

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because paint stretches more and better than it contracts.

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You've had this rolled up on the inside and it makes the cracking even worse.

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That aside, the canvas is actually in quite good condition

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from the point of view that it's still quite a strong canvas, it's not brittle.

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It has been on a stretcher and what you see at the edges are the stretcher bar marks where

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the canvas has been stretched around a wooden stretcher and it needs to be put back on a stretcher.

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But before we can do that, because the stretcher puts it under tension,

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we would really have to consolidate the paint there, otherwise it will start peeling off.

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And the amount of work that will go into that, it's quite considerable,

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so we're talking about a price of around, sort of, £380 to £420.

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Add on the cost of fixing it to a new stretcher frame and Graham is looking at £600 to £700 in total.

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But once restored, I would expect this lovable old mutt to be worth a bob or two.

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The thing is, people love dogs.

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There is no shortage of buyers of dogs.

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So, something you are thinking of going with?

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-Yes, I think so.

-Yep?

-I think I would like to have it restored properly.

-OK.

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Graham is looking to sell the painting at auction, where it could fetch in excess of £1,000.

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And then, if you sell it, I mean, have you got something in mind to do with the money?

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I've got a big birthday coming up

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and I think I might spend it on that.

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Have a bob or two and enjoy it.

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OK. Excellent. All right.

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As it is, this dog-eared oil painting is only worth £300 to £400.

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Lucia is going to repair the surface and stretch it over a new frame for £600 to £700,

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which could see our signed St Bernard fetch £1,000 or more at auction.

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And help Graham celebrate his birthday in style.

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But 47 years curled up has left Fido in a sorry state.

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Can Lucia nurse this old dog back to health and help him find a new home?

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Our restorers' skills are really being tested today by all sorts of wonderful objects.

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Some are neglected heirlooms passed down through generations,

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or treasured personal possessions with sentimental value.

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It'll be a labour of love and I want to keep it.

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While others have been rescued from second-hand shops, house sales, even the bin.

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Next on our patient list is this Victorian ebonised cabinet

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picked up at an antique shop.

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It was a superb steal, but it has had a rough old ride in life

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and owner, Iona Beckett, is here to see if, between us, we can give it a second chance.

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A job for furniture restorer, Rod Titian, who specialises in gilding and lacquering

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and has worked at Kew Palace and the Queen's house in Greenwich.

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Well, this is a really interesting piece that you've brought here today.

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Can you tell me something about it?

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Yes. I found it in a sort of antiquey place in Glasgow.

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At that time my daughter was a music student

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and I was looking for something for her to keep all her music in.

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And it caught my eye because of the lovely detail of the lyre.

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-Exactly. The musical element?

-Yes.

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Music was a popular home entertainment in Victorian times

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and most middle-class homes would have had a cabinet to store sheet music in.

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But this one is looking a bit off-key.

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One thing which I hadn't realised was that

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at some point there must have been a little rail around the top.

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Yes, a gallery, I would have thought.

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I thought the same, a little gallery that maybe had little flutes.

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Yes. And they look as if they have been, I don't know, filled with putty or something.

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Very badly filled, unfortunately.

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Yes, there is potentially a fair bit of work that could be done to bring it back to life again.

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I can see straight away that there's a moulding missing here. The moulding is loose there.

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There is a little bit of...

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Much of it is raised in a couple of areas.

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Options here really are, if you are thinking of keeping it

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and you were to put it back to a happy condition, you're looking at probably about £400.

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The minimum that I would say we would need to do would be

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to put back the moulding and I would say do the top as well.

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If that is the case, I would say in the region of about £140 to do that.

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So, a big difference between the two.

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If I can ask you how much you paid for it? If you don't mind.

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-£40.

-Well, that's not bad, then. OK.

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I think your £40 hasn't done badly, to be honest, because our valuers on

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the show here have actually looked at it and they're putting it in

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at the moment at about £120 as it is.

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But if it were to be done up, you're looking at about £200.

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The difference there is obviously if you're doing it for yourself, you're

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going to be going over and above the actual value of the piece itself.

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So any restoration is going to be for purely sentimental reasons.

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I think I would like it cleaned up.

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-And I think we might want to keep it.

-Right, OK.

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But there is always a sort of limit on spending too much on it.

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So, we are going to go with the £140 option

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and for that we will bring the top nicely back up again.

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Give it a little bit of life, just by finishing it off with wax at the end.

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So the whole thing will come up looking a lot more desirable.

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Because already it's a nice piece, it's got lovely decoration with regards to the marquetry.

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The nice filigree brass work as well.

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So it deserves to have a little bit of life put back into it.

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In its current state, this Victorian music cabinet could fetch £120 at auction.

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Rod is going to try and make it sing again for £140,

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which could nudge it up to a £200 price tag.

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But Iona is not looking to sell.

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She wants to restore this ornate cabinet and pass it down the generations.

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So, can Rod's virtuosity help it hit the high notes again?

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Nothing warms my heart more than ceramics

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and we have seen a fair few poorly pieces today.

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That's a good, clean break, isn't it?

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But these specimens have to be the oddest yet.

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Owner, Gerald Wiebkin, has over 200 in his collection.

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Any ideas yet?

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Ceramics restorer, Roger Hawkins, is one of the best in the business

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and is probably more used to working on priceless Meissen vases than curious creatures like these.

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Well, aren't these fabulous items?

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I wonder how many people actually watching this programme

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will realise exactly what they are?

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They really are fun.

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So, you tell me what they are and where you got them from.

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They're stone hot-water bottles.

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I bought these particular ones on the internet.

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But I have a collection of somewhat over 200.

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That sounds impressive!

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I believe they're English, although there is some suspicion

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that they might possibly be European.

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Well, you were right first time, Gerald. These are English,

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produced in Derbyshire by the world famous Denby Pottery,

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and typical of the brightly coloured pieces they became known for in the 1920s.

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-A little bit of damage on them.

-Yes.

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The term fish-and-chips springs to mind! You have the chip here, which

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is certainly the most unsightly of the damage I can see.

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Little nibbles all over.

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Is it possible to colour the stopper?

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I think so, yes. I think I can do that.

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Once Roger has resuscitated this colourful pair, they could make £250 to £300 each.

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But how much will it cost to restore them?

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I think, with your agreement of spending around £150,

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having those chips repaired so they no longer

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become fish and chips, just fish,

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and colour in the stopper, I think we can reinstate the value.

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So you're happy to go ahead on that basis?

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Yes, that would be lovely, yes.

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They would be wonderful for my collection.

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In this condition, each hot-water bottle could fetch £40 to £80.

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Roger is charging £150 to fix the chips and colour the stopper.

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And once restored, these fish could net £250 to £300 each.

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But this treasured pair won't be swimming off to auction.

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Once restored, they will be taking pride of place in

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Gerald's collection, assuming Roger can make them prize specimens again.

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Coming up - that Frederick Daws oil painting has an eye-opening surprise for Lucia.

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There is something else underneath and I can't work out what it is.

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'And will our St Bernard find a new owner when he's unleashed at auction?'

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£500, I start the bidding.

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Our restorers are on a mission to revive and rejuvenate your worn-out lifeless antiques.

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But imagine looking after treasures on this grand scale.

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Built in the 16th century by Queen Elizabeth's Treasurer, Sir William Cecil,

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Burghley has amassed an amazing collection over the last 450 years.

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Now looked after by the very, very great granddaughter

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of the first Lord Burghley, Miranda Rock.

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One of my principal roles here at Burghley is care of the works of art.

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Obviously there is a balance to be struck between making things

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accessible for visitors and making sure they are well protected,

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and the constant programme of conservation that we agree at the start of each year.

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And when it comes to conservation, be it paintings,

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furniture or the house itself, Burghley is in safe hands.

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We are very fortunate to have the space and, instigated by my parents,

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the opportunity to house a group of very expert restorers.

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It has been very supportive to the house.

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The first person to come here was probably Mike Cowell, who is a picture conservator,

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and he has obviously worked extensively on the collection over the last 20 or so years.

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We can now call on a furniture restorer if a piece of veneer

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falls off and it's stuck on by the end of the afternoon.

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Similar with tapestries. There is a silversmith.

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We have a blacksmith now, which is wonderful.

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It has been hugely successful and I hope it continues for a long time.

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We couldn't resist tapping up Burghley's gold and silversmith, Barry Witmond,

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for a bit of advice on this next piece.

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With an incredible 40 years' experience, he should be able to shed some light on this

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glamorous 19th century French clock acquired by Mick Beech.

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What can you tell me about this clock that you've brought?

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Well, I originally took it in part-exchange for a car that I sold.

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-What car was it?

-It was a very old Ford Escort.

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-Not as old as this.

-No.

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The gentleman couldn't afford the final payment on the car,

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so he said, "Would you take my clock as a final payment?"

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-Well, I think you did very well.

-But all that glitters isn't gold.

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This is a French Ormolu clock, that's bronze with a thin layer of gold on the surface,

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and it has seen some tough times.

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The cost to restore this, I feel,

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would not get your money back.

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It has already cost Mick £250.

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It would cost £200 to repair and only fetch £250 to £500 at auction.

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So it's a classic case of when not to restore.

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And Mick is going to keep it.

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If this is working, enjoy it.

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Or if you wish to sell it...

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then you'll still be in pocket.

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The fact that you swapped it for an Escort,

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I think this is a better deal!

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THEY LAUGH

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The car is no longer running!

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Back in intensive care, our restorers are patching up

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today's casualties using a good dose of elbow grease.

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As you can see, this is more involving than if I just had to clean and wax it.

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Everything from this morning's clinic that can and should be restored is undergoing surgery.

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But sometimes a more controlled environment is needed.

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Remember that loveable St Bernard rolled up for 47 years?

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Well, Lucia couldn't risk losing any more of that paintwork on-site,

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so has taken it back to her studio for some delicate treatment.

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But this dog is guarding a secret.

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Do you see this sort of green paint which is underneath this?

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The underneath paint layer, which is nothing to do with this dog at all.

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Whether that is a completely different painting or whether it is

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just the artist preparing the canvas or whatever, I actually don't know.

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Canvases were pricey, so many artists reused them,

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covering one painting with another to save money.

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Whatever is hiding behind our St Bernard has forced

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Lucia to use synthetic rather than traditional water-based filler,

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which won't work on oil paint.

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-And talking of fillings...

-I use a dental tool.

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The end of it is like a little miniature spatula,

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and it actually is very thin and quite flexible.

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And this is what I use to actually start filling the losses.

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And there are hundreds of cavities.

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All these teeny, tiny losses have to be filled. Every single one.

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And this is the easy bit, apparently.

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Next, she has to emulate the original brushstrokes and that's before retouching.

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Once the gesso fillings are dry, then I'll have a look at the surface again and start

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working on it again with the gesso to naturally put some texture in the surface, where it needs it.

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Because we don't want smooth, flat fillings because they'll just show up.

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And as you can see, there are quite a lot of losses on this,

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so it's going to take me quite a few hours to do them all.

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Someone else putting in a tireless performance

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is furniture restorer, Rod Titian.

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He has been working on that charming music cabinet, brought into Burghley with badly-filled holes.

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He couldn't treat it on-site, so he took it back to his workshop,

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where he has a special glue to make a hand-made filler.

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It's based on traditional recipes that were made up around the 15th century.

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I'm going to pour a section of that into the gesso powder.

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And just turn it around to pick up the actual gesso itself.

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So you can see, it's starting to stick to the solution that I put in.

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I'll just pop that into my hand.

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And mix it around.

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Turned grey with a touch of watercolour, he gently applies it

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on top of the old filler.

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When you're filling, you need to make sure that the surface

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is as flat as possible.

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Now flush, the repairs to the top won't be as noticeable.

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But this is just the overture.

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When you're trying to match colours,

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you need to be conscious that obviously a black is never a black.

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It could be slightly redder, slightly colder, slightly more ambery.

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The colour here is quite cold.

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It hasn't got a rich kind of black coming off it.

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It's quite a deep black.

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Rod's a maestro but he will need all his years of experience

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to match the original ebonised finish.

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Roger has been busy colour matching, too. He had to take the Denby stoneware

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hot-water bottles back to his studio to rid them of their chips.

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I've decided to fill the chip with this

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epoxy resin filling material.

0:18:440:18:46

And I've coloured it a little pinky

0:18:460:18:48

to help match the surrounding colour.

0:18:480:18:52

It's something I like doing because it helps the painting process.

0:18:530:18:57

It makes my first layer of paint blend in very, very well.

0:18:570:19:01

And I'm...rubbing it down with this wet and dry paper.

0:19:010:19:07

There are very, very fine polishing cloths we use, but I also cut them

0:19:070:19:12

in various widths so that when I'm rubbing down,

0:19:120:19:16

I'm only rubbing down the actual area of the chip itself.

0:19:160:19:20

If I use a larger piece of paper, such as this,

0:19:200:19:23

I might, although I'm rubbing down the filler, I might be

0:19:230:19:26

rubbing down and scratching the glaze at the same time.

0:19:260:19:30

You really need a skilful eye to make such delicate repairs.

0:19:300:19:34

We just have to make sure that the filler is absolutely level

0:19:340:19:38

with the surface and there is no dips.

0:19:380:19:41

In fact, this little piece, there is an area here

0:19:410:19:43

where I haven't put quite enough on,

0:19:430:19:46

and I can feel the dip

0:19:460:19:48

from there to there.

0:19:480:19:50

So I've got to put a little more of the filler on there, just to build

0:19:500:19:53

it up a little bit and then sand it back again to perfection.

0:19:530:19:58

So that that filler thinks it's part of the tailfin.

0:19:580:20:03

And not until then will it be ready for painting.

0:20:030:20:06

It's precision stuff and Roger won't settle for anything but the best for these beauties.

0:20:060:20:12

They really are an amazing thing. Imagine pulling back your bedcovers

0:20:120:20:16

and finding a pink cod on your sheets.

0:20:160:20:19

Particularly if you didn't know it was there. That would raise a laugh, wouldn't it?

0:20:190:20:23

'You're right there, Roger.

0:20:230:20:25

'And we've certainly had a few here at Burghley today,

0:20:250:20:28

'where our Restoration Roadshow is sadly drawing to a close.

0:20:280:20:31

'It's been a wonderful day and, thanks to our team of restorers,

0:20:310:20:34

'a whole host of worn-out treasures will live to see another one.

0:20:340:20:37

'Some are going home, like that charming Victorian lyre cabinet,

0:20:370:20:41

'and those quirky Denby hot water bottles.'

0:20:410:20:45

I've seen a few hot water bottles in my time,

0:20:450:20:47

but I've never seen one shaped like a fish.

0:20:470:20:50

While others are off to auction, like that Frederick Daws oil painting.

0:20:500:20:55

Hopefully, it will charm its way to a good price.

0:20:550:20:58

Come on, it's worth more 700. We know it's worth more than that.

0:20:580:21:02

But first, my favourite bit. It's time to reunite our anxious owners with their precious heirlooms.

0:21:020:21:08

-In anticipation!

-Remember that shabby Victorian music cabinet?

0:21:080:21:12

When we first saw it back at Burghley, it looked more rock'n'roll than classical.

0:21:120:21:16

And Rod has had his work cut out resurfacing the top.

0:21:160:21:19

Time to see if all his hard work has paid off.

0:21:190:21:23

There we go.

0:21:230:21:25

That's not only a restoration, it's a transformation!

0:21:280:21:32

Well, I'm glad.

0:21:320:21:34

I'm absolutely delighted. Absolutely delighted.

0:21:340:21:36

It has an elegance.

0:21:360:21:38

It does! It's a nice, elegant, ebonised piece of furniture.

0:21:380:21:41

Before, this ebonised cabinet was spotted with old filler,

0:21:410:21:45

had scuffed corners and missing mouldings.

0:21:450:21:48

Now, with its scars filled, sanded and polished,

0:21:480:21:50

it's a musical masterpiece again.

0:21:500:21:53

-I'm more than thrilled.

-Brilliant, I'm glad.

0:21:530:21:56

That is always the best reaction for me.

0:21:560:21:58

A bit of a pause at the beginning and it had me worried.

0:21:580:22:01

HE LAUGHS

0:22:010:22:04

I think I was a bit speechless, a bit taken aback.

0:22:040:22:08

Because knowing the condition that it had been in...

0:22:080:22:12

-Yes.

-..And then suddenly seeing it brought back to life.

0:22:120:22:16

It's very nice.

0:22:160:22:18

Brilliant. Well, you're welcome. It's a pleasure, it really is a pleasure.

0:22:180:22:22

What a satisfying result.

0:22:220:22:23

This really is a beautiful piece and, thanks to Iona and Rod,

0:22:230:22:27

it will be enjoyed for generations to come.

0:22:270:22:30

But will Roger's exotic fish be looking a healthy colour, too?

0:22:310:22:35

Owner, Gerald, brought the early 20th century stoneware hot-water bottles along to our

0:22:350:22:39

Restoration Roadshow covered in chips and getting rid of them

0:22:390:22:42

has been a real labour of love for Roger.

0:22:420:22:45

-Are you looking forward to this?

-I certainly am.

0:22:450:22:47

Oh, it's fantastic!

0:22:500:22:51

-You've done the stopper.

-I've done the stopper.

0:22:510:22:54

Before, these stoneware hot water bottles were suffering from

0:22:540:22:57

bumps in the night and had stoppers that stuck out like sore thumbs.

0:22:570:23:01

Now, there's only fish and no chips, as Roger promised.

0:23:010:23:05

Colour matched to perfection, this unusual pair can be enjoyed in all their glory.

0:23:050:23:10

So, are you happy with the new colours on the stoppers and how I've matched them up?

0:23:100:23:14

I think they're absolutely marvellous. I think it's really great.

0:23:140:23:18

I should imagine the colours on those was quite difficult to match.

0:23:180:23:21

Actually, matching the colour is not that difficult.

0:23:210:23:24

It's actually getting the effect that that colour gives.

0:23:240:23:27

This is a very translucent glaze so you can still see the colour of the pottery underneath.

0:23:270:23:32

That's the difficult part. And on the fin,

0:23:320:23:35

getting the stripes of the colour, getting that effect is tricky.

0:23:350:23:42

It's wonderful because that was quite badly damaged.

0:23:420:23:46

Yes, all that entire surface was just chipped away.

0:23:460:23:50

-Terrific.

-So, another happy customer?

0:23:500:23:52

Yes, indeed. It's a fantastic result.

0:23:520:23:55

-Thank you very much indeed.

-A pleasure doing it for you.

0:23:550:23:58

Well, Gerald is hooked and so am I.

0:23:580:24:00

These really are quite a catch and will no doubt take pride of place in his collection.

0:24:000:24:05

Fingers crossed the owner of our flaky St Bernard painting is as thrilled with his makeover.

0:24:050:24:11

It's auction day here at the auction house and the 800-plus items listed

0:24:160:24:20

in today's sale have attracted plenty of eager bidders.

0:24:200:24:23

They obviously love their antiques but are they dog-lovers, too?

0:24:230:24:26

Time to find out.

0:24:260:24:28

Remember that Frederick Daws oil painting rolled up for 47 years?

0:24:280:24:32

Well, Lucia has been doggedly filling cracks in its surface

0:24:320:24:36

and I can't wait to see what a difference all the hard work has made.

0:24:360:24:39

And neither can owner, Graham.

0:24:390:24:41

I'm full of excitement, really.

0:24:410:24:43

-Are you really?

-Yes, I am.

0:24:430:24:45

Good. Let's see if we can make you a happy man, Graham.

0:24:450:24:48

Voila!

0:24:480:24:49

Oh, beautiful.

0:24:520:24:54

Look at his face.

0:24:540:24:57

She made a good job of that. A very good job.

0:24:590:25:03

I'm very pleased.

0:25:050:25:06

-You are?

-Yeah.

0:25:060:25:08

There's nearly as many tears in his eyes as I've got!

0:25:080:25:13

Before, this tired, early 20th century painting was cracked

0:25:130:25:16

and peeling and left on top of the wardrobe to gather dust.

0:25:160:25:19

Now, with its many holes filled and its colours radiant, this lovable old fellow has been

0:25:190:25:24

given a new lease of life, and it all down to painting expert, Lucia.

0:25:240:25:28

-Do you think she has delivered?

-Yes.

0:25:280:25:31

She'll be delighted. I'll phone her later and tell her because she'll want to know.

0:25:310:25:36

And what we want to know, of course, is just what the buyers think of it

0:25:370:25:42

out there. I have to say that in its present state,

0:25:420:25:45

I would describe that as a very desirable dog.

0:25:450:25:53

Yes. I agree.

0:25:530:25:55

And the robin is not bad as well.

0:25:550:25:57

At first, this neglected painting was worth maybe £300 to £400.

0:25:570:26:02

Lucia rescued it for £695.

0:26:020:26:06

And we estimate it could exceed £1,000 today, given the right buyer.

0:26:060:26:11

Graham doesn't want to re-home his faithful friend for anything less,

0:26:110:26:15

so has put on a £1,000 reserve.

0:26:150:26:16

If you're interested in buying or selling at auction,

0:26:160:26:19

you will have commission and other charges to pay,

0:26:190:26:22

so be sure to check with the auction house.

0:26:220:26:24

Everything that has been restored will be noted in the catalogue,

0:26:240:26:27

like our oil painting, that's next to go under the hammer.

0:26:270:26:30

How is the...

0:26:300:26:32

Thump, thump!

0:26:320:26:34

I could hear something banging! It must be yours.

0:26:340:26:37

Mind you, mine's giving you quite a good run for its money.

0:26:370:26:40

1636.

0:26:400:26:42

Frederick Thomas Daws, a St Bernard in the kennel, watching a robin.

0:26:420:26:47

Oil on canvas. Frederick Thomas Daws, lot 1636.

0:26:470:26:51

£500, I start the bidding, oil on canvas at £500.

0:26:510:26:56

Take 20 anywhere? 520.

0:26:560:26:58

550. 580. 600.

0:26:580:27:01

£600, I'm bid. 20 anywhere? 620. 650, 680. 700.

0:27:010:27:08

At £700.

0:27:080:27:12

Come on, it's worth more than 700. We know it's worth more than that.

0:27:120:27:16

Unsold, I'm afraid.

0:27:160:27:19

It looks like you've got yourself a robin and a St Bernard.

0:27:190:27:24

And it goes without saying that you might have wanted them to go,

0:27:240:27:29

but they did not want to leave you.

0:27:290:27:31

They didn't want to leave.

0:27:310:27:33

Well, I realise it's stating the obvious but they just weren't the right buyers in the room today.

0:27:330:27:38

That's auctions for you. Sorry to say. Nothing wrong with the price.

0:27:380:27:42

Nothing wrong with the valuation.

0:27:420:27:44

You know, it's worth the money.

0:27:440:27:47

The fish just weren't biting.

0:27:470:27:49

-Never mind.

-So, it's going back up to your part of the world.

0:27:490:27:54

Any thoughts on where you might be putting it?

0:27:540:27:56

It will go on the wall now, instead of on top of the wardrobe.

0:27:560:28:00

So, Graham and his St Bernard won't be parted just yet.

0:28:000:28:04

And if anything deserved saving, it was this sad old rescue dog.

0:28:040:28:08

And having had him restored, Graham can now enjoy his company for the first time in 47 years.

0:28:080:28:13

That's money well spent in my book.

0:28:130:28:15

So, join us again and see our restorers' skill being put

0:28:150:28:18

to the test and more items being saved and given that second chance

0:28:180:28:22

here on Restoration Roadshow.

0:28:220:28:25

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0:28:310:28:33

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0:28:330:28:35

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