Small Home Gazette, Fall 2022
Fixing Damaged Art Pottery
Twin Cities-based restorer Steve Salek restored this Weller lawn sprinkler by recreating the duck’s wing from photographs and filling a missing chunk of the base.
Decorative art pottery was frequently collected by original bungalow owners, and many present-day owners are still collecting. Chances are your collection includes an item or two that needs repair or restoration. The question is how to get started.
As with any service-oriented business, there are different levels of quality available in the marketplace. It might be helpful to think in terms of your goal.
Do you want to repair the piece or restore it? Think about what those two words—repair and restore—mean. My trusty dictionary defines repair as “to restore to sound or good condition after damage; to mend.” The definition for restore is “to bring back to a former or original condition, appearance, etc.” To help you choose between repairing or restoring, different methods are available, ranging from gluing (usually least expensive) to complete restoration.
This Newcomb College vase was restored by Broken Art Restoration in Momence, Illinois.
Two more tips: good restoration takes a while. Think in terms of “months” rather than “a month,” and with either a repaired or a restored piece, careful handling is required because the repair will never be as strong as the original. Finished items should be thought of as decorative only; they will not withstand the rigors of hot water, dishwashers and detergents. Clean with a soft cloth or feather duster and keep them out of direct sunlight. Remember to place your hands around the body of the item to move it rather than grasping a handle or spout.
The following questions could help you determine if your piece is worth fixing, and IF you want to have it fixed:
- Is it a one of a kind or a rare piece?
- Does it have historical significance or sentimental value?
- Is it a part of a set? Collectibles usually have a better value when they are part of a complete set.
- Will it be stabilized through restoration to prevent further damage?
Some restorers, including Broken Arts Restoration in Grand Rapids, Michigan, restore glass objects, such as this Handel art glass shade.
The cost of restoring your piece depends on a number of variables—the nature of the problem, the number of colors used in the glaze, whether you want a complete restoration or not, etc. This makes it difficult to make general statements about costs.
One of the websites recommended sending a photograph of the piece to receive a ballpark estimate. Pricing is competitive so you likely will not see much variation between businesses. And do not forget to consider the cost of shipping and insurance.
Having a piece of pottery repaired can be expensive. Thinking of trying it yourself? One restoration business, Lakeside Pottery Studio (see Resources), has gone so far as to create a series of how-to videos and photo-illustrated, step-by-step instructions. Be forewarned that doing repairs requires an investment in materials and tools, not to mention some skills development. But for anyone who is curious about the process, these how-tos are worth a look.
Most of the resources we list say they both repair and restore antiques and collectibles including art pottery, figurines, art glass and porcelain. Some also have the expertise to work on painting and metal repair. Trial and error is the best way to find the repair or restoration business you like best.
Resources
Lakeside Pottery in Reheboth Beach, Delaware, restored this vintage cookie jar.
Steve Salek Restoration
Robbinsdale, MN
763-529-5151
stevesalekrestoration@gmail.com
Pottery and porcelain repair, as well as painting restoration.
Broken Art Restoration
Momence, IL
815-472-3900
brokenartrestoration.com
High-end restorations. Will estimate on shipped item.
Broken Arts Restoration
Grand Rapids, MI
616-710-3316
brokenarts.com/restoration
Offers glue only as well as partial and full restorations. Repairs glass pieces, including painted vintage lampshades.
Lakeside Pottery Studio
Rehoboth Beach, DE
302-313-4015
lakesidepottery.com
How-To-Restore tutorials: tinyurl.com/2p8hmsax
Old World Restoration, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
513-271-5459
oldworldrestorations.com/services/object-restoration
High-end restorations of wide variety of decorative objects. Will estimate from photos.
Wiebold Studios
Terrance Park, OH
513-831-2541
wiebold.com/porcelain-ceramics
Restorations of wide range of items.
