What does it take to restore priceless antiques without erasing their history?
Robin Johnson sits down with Rodrigo Tizzano of Titian Studio, one of Britain's leading restoration and decorative arts workshops. Rodrigo shares the story of a family business that has preserved historic furniture, architectural features and museum quality antiques for more than sixty years. From Buckingham Palace and the Albert Memorial to rare seventeenth century cabinets worth millions, this conversation explores antique furniture restoration, traditional craftsmanship, mirror eglomisé, gilding, bespoke furniture making and the patience required to conserve irreplaceable pieces. Rodrigo also explains why the best restoration is often invisible, how modern technology fits into a traditional workshop and why passing skills to the next generation matters more than ever.
Key Topics Covered
- Antique furniture restoration and conservation
- Mirror eglomisé and traditional gilding
- Decorative arts and bespoke furniture making
- Restoring historic pieces for Buckingham Palace
- Preserving authenticity through careful restoration
- Traditional craftsmanship in a modern world
- Working with interior designers and private collectors
- Family business across three generations
- Balancing heritage with modern technology
- Advice for young craftspeople entering the restoration trade
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Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
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Key Moments:
00:00 — Rodrigo Tizzano shares how Titian Studio began in 1963 and how three generations have built one of Britain's leading restoration workshops.
02:30 — Growing up surrounded by antiques, restoration and decorative arts before learning traditional techniques from master craftsmen.
05:20 — Why great restoration is almost invisible and why doing less often produces the best result.
09:00 — The challenge of pricing restoration work where every project reveals hidden problems and every antique demands a different approach.
10:30 — Expanding beyond restoration into bespoke furniture, mirror eglomisé and decorative finishes for luxury interiors.
12:00 — Collaborating with leading interior designers and creating one off furniture for prestigious projects including WOW!house.
15:00 — Traditional craftsmanship continues to evolve through experimentation, adapting historic techniques and lifelong learning.
17:30 — Passing a family business to the next generation while introducing digital systems, social media and modern ways of working.
24:30 — Why children should discover their own path before choosing to join a family business.
30:20 — Restoring one of the world's rarest seventeenth century cabinets and the responsibility of working on museum quality antiques.
35:00 — The ethical line between restoration, conservation and creating convincing reproductions.
38:00 — Robin shares a remarkable television restoration where only four original panels survived and the entire cabinet had to be rebuilt.
43:00 — Estimating restoration work, managing client expectations and building a sustainable specialist workshop.
45:00 — Why variety keeps creativity alive through restoration, bespoke furniture, decorative finishes and conservation projects.
48:00 — Rodrigo reveals how close he came to competing on Gladiators before an Achilles injury ended the opportunity.
52:20 — Advice for young makers about patience, persistence, choosing the right partner and building a lasting career in craftsmanship.
