Just broken something precious? Do this first
Approaching the next few minutes in a considered and thorough way makes a real difference to how long the repair takes, how good the result is, and what it costs. A great deal can be done with a broken ceramic, glass or enamel object – usually more than people expect – and the condition the pieces reach us in has a direct bearing on all three.
The single most important thing: do not try to glue it back together.
Five steps
- Photograph the damage before you move anything. Colour photos are best, with a ruler alongside to show scale.
- Do not press the pieces together. It is a natural thing to do, and it chips and crushes the fragile break edges – which is what makes a repair visible later.
- Collect every piece, including the dust and the slivers. The smallest fragments are often the ones that decide whether a join disappears or not.
- Wrap each section separately in kitchen paper or tissue, so the broken edges cannot rub against each other.
- Put everything in a sturdy box and contact the studio.
Why glue makes things worse
Household adhesives are the most common reason a repair ends up looking like a repair. They are difficult to reverse, they yellow with age, and removing them later means solvents and time that would have been better spent on the object itself.
We regularly take on pieces where an old repair has failed and discoloured. It can almost always be undone – but it is slower and more expensive than if the piece had simply been boxed up as it was.
What happens next
Send us your photographs and a contact number and we will assess the likely scope of the work and whether the repair is feasible. There is no obligation, and no work begins until you have approved an estimate.
We will be clear about what can be achieved and what the result will look like, so there are no surprises at the end. If you need to make an insurance claim, we can provide a written estimate at our normal rate or deal with the insurer directly.