Richard and I will often watch BBC’s “The Repair Shop” (here) in which patrons bring their time worn heirlooms to be restored to another time. It’s great to see so many attached to sentiments in our throw-it-out/replace/upgrade it society. I don’t recall having any family heirlooms.
My mom had been raised in poorer circumstances with many relics that may not have been considered antiques at the time – certainly not of value either financially or sentimentally. We threw things away and replaced them – though I remember my brother and I both hoarding “stuff” as sentiments. Perhaps even now. But nothing worth restoring . . . I don’t think.
I do have a set of scriptures that belonged to my mother. The binding on the triple combination is torn in places and many of the pages have definitely seen better days. But it is a treasure because I see where she has marked certain scriptures and written in the margin. That for me is a treasure – something I would definitely have restored if I lived in England and could travel to the repair shop more easily than now.
The most interesting thing I think I have seen is a coconut scraper (which I had never even heard of before, but does make sense; just something the average person wouldn’t encounter or have need for) and the most touching has been with the restoration of a painting that survived war. You can read about (and see the workmanship involved) here for one. There are others if you would like to research it more.
Thank you to those who have the skills to make the restorations possible and for those who choose to have their legacy live on in these items. I love to hear their stories. And I love watching the shared talent of others.
