RESTORATION MAN PROGRAMMES

EPISODE 01 >> SIDEBOARD

Alan Herd and Eric Knowles visit a general auction in Shrewsbury to buy a mid-Victorian mahogany mirror-backed sideboard which needs a major clean up and additional carving on the top of the mirror. While Alan is busy doing that in the workshop Eric visits specialist restorers Plowden & Smith in London to see how a bronze figure is repaired. The transformed sideboard is sold at Law Fine Art of Newbury.

EPISODE 02 >> LONGCASE CLOCK

Eric Knowles and Alan Herd head to Birmingham to buy an early 19th Century 30 hour oak and mahogany long case clock. In the workshop, Alan discovers there's more work needed than he initially thought. The whole carcass needs to be made structurally sound and Alan turns new rosettes and a spindle for the hood. Meanwhile Eric visits expert restorer Ben Lawson who is restoring an 19th century ivory figure of a Chinese fisherman. Will therestored clock realise its full value?

Bought for: £70
At: Thomas N. Miller,
Auctioneer: Alistair Scott

Sold By: Law Fine Art,
Auctioneer: Mark Law

EPISODE 04 >> DEMI LUNE CARD TABLE

Eric Knowles and Alan Herd venture to North Wales and come away with a very distressed George III flame mahogany card table of demi lune type. In the workshop, Alan deals with its damaged veneers, and shows Eric how to fit new baise to the top. The transformed table is sold in south London; but will it make a profit?

EPISODE 05 >> BRITANNIA CHEST AND HALLSTAND

At a general sale in Worcester, Eric Knowles and Alan Herd buy a 19th Century mahogany chest for a bargain price and Eric can't resist buying a monstrous hallstand that Alan hates! The chest has a disastrous finish, possibly caused by fire damage. Alan gives it thorough clean and gets some copies made of the brass handles with Britannia motif while the hallstand just needs a few hours work. Eric visits the Queen's restorers to be see the repair of a Venetian glass mirror. Both the chest & the hallstand are sent to auctioneers Cheffins in Cambridge, but which will make them a bigger profit?

EPISODE 06 >> LADIES CHAIR

Eric Knowles and Alan Herd venture up to Tyneside and come back to the workshop with a Victorian upholstered mahogany ‘Ladies’ or ‘salon’ chair. Alan undertakes the restoration of the frame and makes an rewarding discovery. He visits local specialist upholsterers to see how the experts deep button his chair. Eric joins him back in the workshop to make the final preparations before sending the chair to Roseberys auction rooms in London to be sold.

EPISODE 07 >> DAVENPORT

A damaged Victorian walnut Davenport catches Alan Herd and Eric Knowles’ eye at Tennants Auctioneers in Yorkshire. The top is stripped of its original dull straight grained veneer and reveneered in burr walnut, and Alan has to turn some new drawer knobs on the lathe. The Davenport is sold at in London and Eric Knowles visits specialist restorers in London who are working on some severely fire damaged chairs.

Bought for: £225
At: Dodds
Auctioneer: Anthony Parry

Sold for: £640
At: Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers
Auctioneer: Will Axon

Bought for: £200
At: Andrew Grant

Sold At: Rosebery's
Auctioneer: Ian Cadzow

EPISODE 10 >> GEORGE III CHEST OF DRAWERS

Alan Herd and Erick Knowles buy a rather battered but perfect sized 18th Century oak chest of drawers from an antique sale in Birmingham. While Alan repairs the damage, and cleans the chest of its overly dark patina, Eric sees how it’s possible to repair three violins made of clear glass at a specialist workshop in South London.

EPISODE 11 >> MAHOGANY DROP LEAF TABLE

Alan Herd and Eric Knowles visit TN Millers in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and buy bargain priced early 19th Century mahogany drop leaf occasional table. Though badly sun-bleached Alan convinces Eric he can restore it to its former glory and he even breaks the top in half to clean a nasty split. Eric visits restorers where he is shown how to restore an extremely fragile gilt gesso mirror. The table is sold in south London - will Alan's hard work be worthwhile?

Bought for: £220
At: Halls Auctioneers
Auctioneer: Richard Allen

Sold At: Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers
Auctioneer: Will Axon

Bought for: £270
At: Dodds
Auctioneer: Anthony Parry

Sold By: Law Fine Art
Auctioneer: Mark Law

EPISODE 14 >> SECRETAIRE BOOKCASE

At an antiques auction in Birmingham, Alan Herd and Eric Knowles snap up a a mid Victorian figured walnut Secretaire Bookcase. Rather than doing a major renovation, Alan replaces a few missing veneers and cleans the carcass. But how will they replace the one hundred year old cracked mirror? Eric visits experts Plowden & Smith to find out how to make a reproduction while Alan does his own experiments and ages a modern mirror himself.

EPISODE 15 >> CHIPPENDALE CHAIR

Alan Herd and Eric Knowles and pick up a George III country Chippendale mahogany carver, from a sale in North Yorkshire – it’s cheap, but severely damaged. Alan has to replace the stretchers and the bottom rails and each leg has to be extended. Once repaired, it’s sold at Cheffins in Cambridge. Eric also goes to London see the restoration of an 18th century Italian marble table top that arrived at the workshop in hundreds of pieces.