Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.
Beth Haine has brought in two relics of a bygone era with a family connection. The pair of Victorian carriage lamps once adorned a horse-drawn hearse, part of her great-grandfather’s funeral director’s business. When motor cars took over from the horses, these lamps were repurposed to live outside the family home, but years of being exposed to the elements has left them rusty and worn. Now it’s down to the skills of horologist Steve Fletcher and metal worker Dominic Chinea to try to rescue them so they can once again light the way for visitors.
Next to arrive is Claire Funge, with a very personal project for silversmith Brenton West. This unfinished copper jewellery box was started by Claire’s mum Christine, who as a 21-year-old developed a passion for metal work after attending evening classes. However, while she was taking the classes, Christine met Claire’s dad, and silversmithing took a back seat in her life. Now Claire would like Brenton to finish the task her mum started 63 years ago.
Finally, Michael Wilson has brought in a piece of family history and a tribute to a famous family tale. This small ceramic statue commemorates the best day of fishing his grandad Arthur ever had, landing two huge salmon – the moment captured forever in three dimensions. But while the fishing stories grew, the condition of the statue has gone downhill, with one of the ceramic salmon even escaping from this miniature angler. Michael shared his grandfather’s passion for fishing and spent many happy hours with him by the water. Now he is hoping ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay can rescue this tribute to his grandad and revive those happy boyhood memories. Show less