Ceramic Repair & Restoration

All types of ceramic objects can generally be repaired including earthenware, stoneware, bone china, soft paste and hard paste porcelain. Most china repairs are almost invisible, and conservation ethics are adhered to with regard to treatments and materials used.
Whether it is a broken china plate or an antique Meissen or Dresden porcelain figurine, if it's damaged we can usually mend it!
Our studio specialises in using conservation grade materials, with special attention to hand mixing colours to replicate and match original finishes.
How the work is carried out.
The first step before any conservation or restoration is undertaken is to assess the piece, to ascertain what damage has been sustained. This may also reveal, sometimes under magnification, if any previous repairs have been undertaken. Common defects can be old repairs where the shards have been misaligned, inappropriate adhesives that have yellowed with age and are unsightly, to missing pieces, which need replicating.
Before treatment is commenced the piece has to be carefully cleaned, which may entail various cleaning methods, then any old joints are taken down either mechanically or with an appropriate solvent and all break edges then will be cleaned. Stain removal may also be carried out if deemed appropriate.
Missing pieces may have to be modeled or cast, breaks are re-adhered using appropriate conservation grade adhesives, and missing pieces are replaced, again using appropriate conservation grade materials.
Any filling is then carried out which then has to be made smooth to match original surfaces, then colour matching is undertaken, with surfaces being then being finely sanded and polished to match in to the original finish.
Porcelain and china wares have all been high fired on manufacture. This process cannot be repeated during repairs, as more damage is likely to be sustained, so the conservation of the piece is the priority, enabling it to be enjoyed for future generations. Therefore after restoration the item cannot be used for its original function, especially if used for food or to contain water, as the materials used in restoration don't exactly replicate the properties of the original ceramic, but instead the piece can be enjoyed as a visual object.
The process:
This involves examining the object and carrying out a condition survey, to assess if it is stable and what damage has occurred. A treatment plan is designed then any old repairs are disassembled and any old adhesives or fills are removed. The object is cleaned and stain removal may be appropriate.
The item is then bonded with appropriate conservation grade adhesives, after which any gaps are filled and missing parts may be replicated, followed by sanding and then colour retouching.
This process aims to retain as much of the original item and finishes as possible, whilst ensuring that further deterioration is prevented, and allows the item to be displayed and enjoyed.
Please note that after restoration, items are for display purposes only, due to the materials used to repair them, they may not be impervious to water and are not designed for food storage.
Whether it is a broken china plate or an antique Meissen or Dresden porcelain figurine, if it's damaged we can usually mend it!
Our studio specialises in using conservation grade materials, with special attention to hand mixing colours to replicate and match original finishes.
How the work is carried out.
The first step before any conservation or restoration is undertaken is to assess the piece, to ascertain what damage has been sustained. This may also reveal, sometimes under magnification, if any previous repairs have been undertaken. Common defects can be old repairs where the shards have been misaligned, inappropriate adhesives that have yellowed with age and are unsightly, to missing pieces, which need replicating.
Before treatment is commenced the piece has to be carefully cleaned, which may entail various cleaning methods, then any old joints are taken down either mechanically or with an appropriate solvent and all break edges then will be cleaned. Stain removal may also be carried out if deemed appropriate.
Missing pieces may have to be modeled or cast, breaks are re-adhered using appropriate conservation grade adhesives, and missing pieces are replaced, again using appropriate conservation grade materials.
Any filling is then carried out which then has to be made smooth to match original surfaces, then colour matching is undertaken, with surfaces being then being finely sanded and polished to match in to the original finish.
Porcelain and china wares have all been high fired on manufacture. This process cannot be repeated during repairs, as more damage is likely to be sustained, so the conservation of the piece is the priority, enabling it to be enjoyed for future generations. Therefore after restoration the item cannot be used for its original function, especially if used for food or to contain water, as the materials used in restoration don't exactly replicate the properties of the original ceramic, but instead the piece can be enjoyed as a visual object.
The process:
This involves examining the object and carrying out a condition survey, to assess if it is stable and what damage has occurred. A treatment plan is designed then any old repairs are disassembled and any old adhesives or fills are removed. The object is cleaned and stain removal may be appropriate.
The item is then bonded with appropriate conservation grade adhesives, after which any gaps are filled and missing parts may be replicated, followed by sanding and then colour retouching.
This process aims to retain as much of the original item and finishes as possible, whilst ensuring that further deterioration is prevented, and allows the item to be displayed and enjoyed.
Please note that after restoration, items are for display purposes only, due to the materials used to repair them, they may not be impervious to water and are not designed for food storage.
