Episode 9
The team restores a zoetrope – a groundbreaking form of Victorian entertainment and a precursor to moving film – along with a pair of dilapidated designer chairs.
It's the return of smoke and mirrors from times past as Camilla arrives with a groundbreaking form of Victorian entertainment she’d like to see back in action. Her revolving zoetrope is a candlelit, animation device that laid the foundations for the development of moving film.
Camilla’s great-great-great-grandfather made the device back in the 1850s. A chief draftsman of the Darlington Railway, he often did technical drawings of trains, and his eye for detail can be seen in the construction of her zoetrope. Passed down to her grandma, Camilla recalls playing with it as a child, and now that it is in her care, she’d love to see it restored to working order.
Angelina Bakalarou has clocked up nearly 20 years of paper conservation experience, which she can use to restore the picture scrolls, whilst expert Dominic Chinea takes on the missing metal prongs that hold the scrolls in place. Will Kirk uses traditional techniques to make a stand. Their combined hard work leaves Camilla completely animated over her now fully usable zoetrope.
The barn’s next project is a pair of furniture designer classics. The forlorn pair of chairs belong to Roger, who inherited them from his twin brother Chris when he immigrated to Florida in the 1990s. Unbeknownst to Roger, upholstery expert Sonnaz Nooranvary reveals that his brother Chris had very good taste, as the chairs are vintage ercol. Not realising how important they would become after the loss of his brother, Roger kept the chairs stored in a damp storage space for many years and is now ashamed they’ve ended up in such a sorry state. Sonnaz sets to work revamping the upholstery, whilst carpenter Will Kirk tackles the water-damaged wood. Their combined efforts pay off as Roger takes a seat on his beautifully restored keepsakes.
Finally, Fiona brings in a pair of her dad’s boots from the 1960s. She explains that these are no ordinary Chelsea boots but traditional step-dancing boots. Her father, a Norfolk fisherman and lifeboat worker, used this freestyle form of tap dancing to relax at the end of a hard day’s work. Keen to continue the tradition, Fiona returns to the barn accompanied by a musician in the hope of dancing in her father’s step-boots once again.
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Teaming up to tackle twin chairs
Duration: 01:18
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Bill Paterson |
| Expert | Sonnaz Nooranvary |
| Expert | Will Kirk |
| Expert | Angelina Bakalarou |
| Expert | Dominic Chinea |
| Expert | Kirsten Ramsay |
| Expert | Dean Westmoreland |
| Executive Producer | Emma Walsh |
| Executive Producer | Glenn Swift |
| Executive Producer | Paula Fasht |
| Line Producer | Laura Fisher |
| Director | Ingo Nyakairu |
| Production Company | Ricochet Limited |
Broadcasts
- Wed 12 Mar 2025 20:00
- Mon 17 Mar 2025 06:55
- Thu 16 Oct 2025 15:45
Take Part
If you have a treasured possession that needs restoring, please get in touch.