麻豆约拍

Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.

Precious metals expert Brenton West gets his hands on a pewter chess set representing the War of Independence, complete with 32 figures of British and American soldiers. The prized set belonged to Carl McKeating鈥檚 father, who was a keen chess player. He taught Carl and his brothers to play, but Carl would often use the figures as toy soldiers, inflicting extensive war wounds - broken legs and arms, missing rifles and cannons. In his father's final years, Carl vowed to have it repaired, and with his father passing away recently, he is desperate to keep that promise. Brenton鈥檚 first move is to replace the broken and missing pieces using an ancient process called sand casting, and then fine art restorer Lucia Scalisi meticulously repaints the tiny uniforms of the 32 soldiers.

Wood furniture restorer Will Kirk carries out work on an intricate X-shaped chair from Syria, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Danielle and her partner Gilli from east London are the owners of this cherished but crumbling chair, which has been in Danielle's Jewish family for generations, migrating with them all over the world as they fled war and uncertainty. Daneille has known the chair her entire life, and it sparks fond memories of growing up in Morocco with her extended family. The folding chair is made up of 33 pieces, most of which have been ravaged by woodworm. Every inch of its frail timber needs attention. Will saves the majority of the original pieces and splices in new sections of wood for the parts that have been lost for good. The final results are breathtaking.

Toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell are happy to help a wartime mascot doll get fit for service again. The Second World War doll, known as Tommy, belongs to Geoffrey Holdsworth. He was a gift from Geoffrey's serviceman father when he returned from war, and he signifies the first time Geoffrey ever met his dad. Tommy is no longer looking his best, but the ladies soon change that.